The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the President’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) and CIHEB-Tanzania, has intensified preparedness for Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks in Kagera Region.
The move is aimed at strengthening the capacity of frontline health workers to identify, manage and respond safely to suspected cases, particularly in areas close to Tanzania’s borders.
The initiative is being implemented through the Global Health Security Project and focuses on strengthening emergency and disaster response, including the management of emergency cases and critically ill patients at Muleba District Hospital and Kaigara Health Centre.
Speaking on Friday, August 21, 2026, Kaigara Health Centre Medical Officer-in-Charge, Dr Kulwa Kinyara, said the involvement of health experts had provided an important opportunity for staff to sharpen their skills in emergency care and outbreak response.
He said the partnership between the Ministry of Health and CIHEB was helping to strengthen the ability of healthcare workers to respond to public health emergencies while maintaining the safety of both patients and medical personnel.
“Strengthening the capacity of our health workers is critical, particularly in a region such as Kagera, which is close to neighbouring countries where outbreaks of infectious diseases have been reported,” Dr Kinyara said.
He said better preparedness would enable health facilities to respond quickly when suspected cases arise, reducing the risk of infections spreading within communities and healthcare settings.
Nurse-in-Charge of the Emergency Unit at Kaigara Health Centre, Ms Alidina Kokuilwa, said the programme had equipped health workers with additional knowledge on emergency care, infection prevention and control, and procedures for handling patients who may have infectious diseases.
She said the training had improved the facility’s preparedness and given staff greater confidence in managing emergencies.
“For us, the training has been important because it has strengthened our knowledge of what to do when we receive a patient who may have an infectious disease,” Ms Kokuilwa said.
She added that improved preparedness was particularly important for communities living in border areas, where the movement of people between countries can increase the risk of infectious diseases crossing borders.
The Ministry of Health experts also provided mentorship aimed at improving health workers’ professional skills, sharing practical experience and strengthening the delivery of rapid, safe and quality care to emergency and critically ill patients.
The programme also seeks to improve adherence to national healthcare guidelines, strengthen infection prevention and control measures and enhance the ability of health facilities to respond to Ebola and other potential outbreaks.
The latest intervention underscores the importance of maintaining strong frontline preparedness in Kagera, where early detection, effective infection control and a rapid response could play a critical role in protecting communities from the spread of infectious diseases.
