Kyerwa District Hospital in Kagera Region has strengthened its preparedness to respond to disease outbreaks following a practical capacity-building exercise aimed at improving the ability of healthcare workers to safely manage suspected cases of highly infectious diseases, including Ebola.
The exercise was conducted by the Ministry of Health through the Department of Emergency and Disaster Management, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) and CIHEB-Tanzania, under the Global Health Security Project.
The initiative focused on strengthening emergency preparedness and response, particularly in the areas of patient screening, isolation, infection prevention and control, emergency care, and the safe management of medical waste.
Speaking on August 23, the Medical Officer in Charge of Kyerwa District Hospital, Dr. Richard Sangu, said the exercise had given healthcare workers an important opportunity to improve their knowledge and practical skills in responding to disease outbreaks.
According to Dr. Sangu, healthcare workers were trained on how to receive patients who are suspected of having highly infectious diseases, including how to conduct initial screening and safely isolate suspected cases.
They were also shown the appropriate movement routes that patients and healthcare workers should follow within the facility, from the point of arrival through the different stages of care.
Dr. Sangu said the exercise also helped the hospital identify areas that require improvement.
“The challenges identified during the exercise have been received by the hospital management. Those that are within our capacity will be addressed promptly to ensure that the hospital is ready to provide safe and timely services whenever a suspected outbreak case is received,” he said.
The importance of the exercise was also highlighted by Dr. Alex Donat, Doctor and Medical Services Coordinator at Kyerwa District Hospital.
Dr. Alex said the hospital was grateful for the training, noting that it had strengthened the capacity of healthcare workers to respond to infectious disease threats.
He emphasized that preparedness is particularly important for Kyerwa because the district is located along the border with a neighboring country that has previously experienced Ebola outbreaks.
The healthcare workers received training on how to identify and screen suspected cases, the preparations required at district level, and the proper use of emergency equipment.
The training included practical guidance on the use of critical emergency equipment such as respiratory support machines and defibrillators used to help patients experiencing severe medical emergencies.
Healthcare workers were also trained on proper decontamination procedures and the safe handling and disposal of medical waste to reduce the risk of infection within health facilities and the surrounding community.
The strengthened preparedness at Kyerwa District Hospital is expected to improve the hospital's ability to quickly identify suspected cases, isolate patients where necessary, protect healthcare workers, and provide appropriate care while following infection prevention and control measures.
For residents of Kyerwa, stronger preparedness means that healthcare workers are better equipped to respond when a suspected infectious disease case is reported.
The exercise also reinforces the importance of early detection and prompt response, particularly in border districts where the movement of people across borders can increase the need for strong disease surveillance and emergency preparedness.
Kyerwa District Hospital management has committed to addressing the gaps identified during the exercise and continuing to strengthen its preparedness so that patients can receive safe and timely services.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to ensure that Tanzania's health system is prepared to detect, prevent and respond effectively to disease outbreaks while protecting both patients and healthcare workers.
