The Ministry of Health has stepped up efforts to improve emergency medical care at district level through a five-day onsite mentorship programme targeting healthcare workers managing critically ill patients, including newborns.
The programme, which began on Monday, August 10, 2026, is being implemented by the Ministry’s Emergency and Disaster Management Department in collaboration with the President’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) and development partner Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI).
The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals while addressing gaps in emergency services, with the ultimate goal of ensuring patients receive timely, safe and quality care closer to where they live.
The practical mentorship is being conducted at Madaba District Hospital in Ruvuma Region, alongside nine other health facilities across the country.
The facilities involved are Kondoa District Hospital, Meru District Hospital, Tunduru District Hospital, Bwisya District Hospital, Mbarali District Hospital, Mvomero District Hospital, Mafia District Hospital, Mkomaindo District Hospital, Mbulu Town Council Hospital and Madaba District Hospital.
The exercise will run from August 10 to 14 and brings together health professionals from the Ministry of Health and regional hospitals in Ruvuma, Mbeya, Mtwara, Dodoma, Pwani, Mwanza, Manyara, Arusha and Morogoro.
Unlike conventional classroom training, onsite mentorship enables healthcare workers to receive practical guidance within their working environment. The approach allows mentors to identify challenges affecting emergency care and provide immediate support to strengthen clinical practices.
The programme places particular emphasis on the management of critically ill patients, including newborns, who often require rapid assessment, close monitoring and coordinated intervention.
The Ministry said the exercise is also intended to improve the performance of healthcare workers and strengthen the overall quality of services delivered to citizens.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to build a more responsive health system in which district hospitals have the skills and capacity required to handle emergencies effectively.
For citizens, stronger emergency services at district hospitals could mean quicker intervention, improved patient management and reduced pressure on higher-level referral hospitals.
By taking skills development directly to health facilities, the programme also seeks to ensure that improvements in emergency care translate into better services for communities across different regions of the country.
