By Our Reporter
The government has intensified preparedness measures against Ebola and other infectious diseases in border regions, with health authorities assessing facilities and training frontline workers on how to safely handle suspected cases.
The initiative is being led by the Ministry of Health through its Emergency and Disaster Department and the Quality Assurance, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Unit, in collaboration with the President’s Office–Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) and CIHEB-Tanzania under the Global Health Security Project.
On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, health workers at Bukoba Regional Referral Hospital underwent training and practical exercises on the safe management of patients suspected of having highly infectious diseases, including Ebola.
The exercise focused on strengthening infection prevention and control measures, including the proper procedures health workers should follow when receiving, isolating and caring for suspected cases.
The assessment is part of a wider exercise being conducted in several parts of the country, with particular attention to Kagera and Kigoma regions because of their proximity to neighbouring countries.
Health officials are assessing isolation facilities and other preparedness measures to identify gaps that could undermine the country’s ability to respond quickly if an outbreak occurs.
During the Bukoba visit, the team inspected several sections of the hospital, including operating theatres, the laundry, designated waste disposal areas and wards.
The inspections are intended to establish whether the facilities have appropriate systems for infection prevention, waste management and safe handling of patients, as well as whether health workers are adequately prepared.
For residents in border communities, the preparedness measures are particularly important because frequent movement of people across borders can increase the need for effective disease surveillance and rapid response systems.
The government’s approach places emphasis on early detection, infection prevention and strengthening the capacity of health facilities to manage suspected cases while protecting health workers and other patients.
The ongoing exercise is expected to provide health authorities with a clearer picture of preparedness gaps and guide measures to strengthen Tanzania’s ability to respond to Ebola and other potential disease outbreaks.
