Health authorities in Kagera have stepped up efforts to strengthen preparedness for disease outbreaks, with a team of experts from the Ministry of Health and the Center for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB) assessing infection prevention and control measures across the region.
The exercise, which began on August 18, 2026, is focusing on the readiness of health facilities to prevent and manage infectious disease outbreaks, while also equipping healthcare workers with skills needed to protect patients and communities.
Acting Kagera Regional Medical Officer, Dr Rebecca Gwambasa, said the exercise was particularly important given the region’s proximity to neighbouring countries, some of which have experienced disease outbreaks.
She said strengthening preparedness would help ensure that residents can access safe and quality healthcare services whenever an outbreak occurs.
“Kagera welcomes this exercise because it will help strengthen our preparedness and improve the quality and safety of services provided to our people,” Dr Gwambasa said.
The experts are conducting assessments on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in hospitals and other health facilities, with the aim of identifying gaps and areas requiring improvement.
Ministry of Health IPC Coordinator Dr Chrisogone German said the assessment covers hospitals managed by councils across Kagera Region.
He said the findings would help health authorities identify weaknesses in IPC systems and take appropriate measures to improve them.
“This assessment is important because it allows us to identify areas that need improvement and strengthen infection prevention and control measures in our health facilities,” Dr German said.
The team is also providing training to healthcare workers on how to safely manage patients during disease outbreaks.
Dr German said the training was part of efforts to ensure health facilities are adequately prepared to provide effective services while protecting healthcare workers and patients from further transmission of infectious diseases.
The initiative is expected to strengthen Kagera’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to disease outbreaks, particularly given the region’s cross-border links.
A nurse at Rusumo Health Centre welcomed the exercise, saying the visit had given healthcare workers an opportunity to receive practical guidance on outbreak preparedness.
The nurse said the knowledge gained would help improve the facility’s ability to protect patients, healthcare workers and the wider community.
For Kagera residents, the assessment offers an important layer of preparedness, ensuring that health facilities are better positioned to respond quickly and safely should an infectious disease outbreak occur.
