Some households in Ruvuma Region have started stocking up on food and stepping up preparations for possible disruptions from heavy El Niño rains and disease outbreaks, including Ebola, following increased public awareness campaigns.
The early response has been reported in several councils as government teams assess community preparedness and strengthen Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) systems ahead of potential emergencies.
Madaba District Social Welfare Officer John Mashauri said public education had encouraged residents to take precautions, including preserving food supplies and following reliable weather and health information.
“Communities are now more aware. Even crop prices in the market have started changing. A tin of maize that used to sell for between TZS3,500 and TZS4,000 has risen to TZS7,000. This suggests that many people have decided to store food,” Mr Mashauri said.
The development highlights how concerns over possible weather disruptions can affect household food decisions and local markets, particularly in areas where communities depend heavily on agricultural production.
Mr Mashauri said continued access to accurate information would be important in helping residents make timely decisions as the country prepares for possible heavy rains and public health emergencies.
The comments were made on September 28, 2026, during an exercise to review preparedness questionnaires and establish RCCE teams in councils across Ruvuma.
The exercise is being conducted by the Prime Minister’s Office-RALG, the Ministry of Health and UNICEF as part of a wider preparedness programme covering 12 regions.
Prime Minister’s Office-RALG coordinator Chipole Mpelembe said the teams should use information gathered from communities to identify specific risks and tailor public awareness campaigns accordingly.
“RCCE teams have the responsibility of collecting information and using the results of the questionnaires to plan education based on the actual needs of the community,” Mr Mpelembe said.
He urged councils to develop measurable emergency plans and strengthen coordination among relevant authorities, while ensuring that vulnerable groups, including schoolchildren, are included in preparedness efforts.
“Early preparations can help reduce the impact when challenges occur,” he said.
The exercise comes as Tanzania continues strengthening preparedness and surveillance for Ebola and other potential public health threats, alongside possible impacts associated with heavy El Niño rains.
In June 2026, authorities had investigated 64 Ebola alerts reported from 21 regions, with no Ebola infection confirmed in the country.