The Ministry of Health has intensified preparations to prevent and respond to potential Ebola outbreaks, with health authorities assessing the readiness of 21 health facilities in Dodoma Region.
The assessment, which began on Monday, August 31, 2026, started at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital and Mkonze Health Centre, focusing on the availability of isolation and emergency treatment areas, protective equipment and the preparedness of healthcare workers.
The exercise is aimed at ensuring health facilities can promptly detect, isolate and manage suspected Ebola cases while protecting healthcare workers and other patients from possible infection.
Speaking during the assessment at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital, Ministry of Health Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Dr Redenta Bahengwa said the exercise was intended to identify and address gaps in preparedness.
“The team will visit 21 health facilities. Today, we assessed areas designated for treating patients, the availability of personal protective equipment and the readiness of healthcare workers who have been trained in infection prevention and control and in providing care to Ebola patients,” she said.
Dr Bahengwa said preparedness was critical in ensuring that health workers could respond effectively should Ebola be detected in the country.
At Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital, Medical Officer-in-Charge Dr Ibenzi Ernest said the facility had put in place specific areas for handling emergencies involving infectious diseases.
“The hospital has prepared special emergency areas to respond to disease outbreaks, while our healthcare workers are ready to provide services in line with safety and infection prevention and control procedures,” he said.
Dr Ernest also urged members of the public to maintain proper hand hygiene when visiting health facilities and cooperate with healthcare workers by following instructions issued to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
He said community participation remained an important component of efforts to detect and contain disease outbreaks.
Meanwhile, Amref Health Africa Epidemiologist and Global Health Security Project Officer Ambakisye Mhiche said the organisation was working with the government to strengthen Dodoma's preparedness for Ebola and other public health emergencies.
She said the programme included continued training for healthcare workers at facility level and traditional medicine practitioners, alongside assessments of health facility capacity and the availability of designated treatment areas.
“Training is continuing for healthcare professionals at facility level and traditional medicine practitioners. We are also assessing the capacity of health facilities and the availability of designated areas for treating patients to strengthen the country's response,” Ms Mhiche said.
Tanzania has no reported Ebola cases, according to the officials involved in the exercise.
The ongoing assessment is therefore preventive, focusing on strengthening surveillance, infection prevention and control, health worker preparedness and emergency response systems before any suspected case is detected.
The measures come as Tanzania continues to strengthen its capacity to respond quickly to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, with health facilities serving as the first line of defence against potential outbreaks.