The Ministry of Health is assessing the preparedness of hospitals in Ruvuma Region to detect and manage potential Ebola cases as Tanzania strengthens its capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
A team of Ministry of Health experts, working with specialists from the World Health Organisation (WHO), visited health facilities on November 5, 2026, to evaluate their ability to prevent, detect and contain Ebola should the disease emerge in the country.
The assessment covered both public and private health facilities, including Ruvuma Regional Referral Hospital and Songea Municipal Hospital.
The exercise seeks to establish whether hospitals have adequate systems and capacity to identify suspected cases, prevent infections within health facilities and provide appropriate care to affected patients.
It also aims to strengthen the preparedness of healthcare workers, particularly their ability to manage suspected infections while preventing further transmission to other patients, medical personnel and surrounding communities.
The involvement of WHO experts is expected to support efforts to strengthen outbreak preparedness and improve the capacity of health facilities to respond effectively to public health emergencies.
The assessment highlights the importance of early detection, infection prevention and control, and effective hospital response systems in limiting the spread and impact of highly infectious diseases.
For communities, the readiness of hospitals is critical in ensuring that suspected cases can be identified and managed promptly, reducing the risk of wider transmission.
The ministry's assessment is part of efforts to reinforce the country's preparedness against disease outbreaks and safeguard public health.