Tanzania conducts IPC assessment in Kagera in preparedness for Ebola outbreaks
BUKOBA: THE Ministry of Health has conducted an infection prevention and control (IPC) assessment at Nyakahanga Hospital in Karagwe District Council, Kagera Region, as part of efforts to strengthen health workers’ capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, including Ebola.
The Ministry’s Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator, Dr Chrisogone German, said the assessment aimed to improve health workers’ knowledge and capacity to take appropriate measures to prevent and control infections while providing healthcare services.
Dr German made the remarks in Kagera, explaining that the assessment and training exercise was organised by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with CIHEB through the Global Health Security Project.
He said the initiative was intended to ensure that health workers have adequate knowledge of infection prevention and control procedures to protect themselves while also ensuring that members of the public receive safe and quality healthcare services.
“We want to ensure that health workers are safe while providing services and have the capacity to take appropriate measures to prevent and control infections,” Dr German said.
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He said Kagera Region has faced challenges related to disease outbreaks, making it necessary for the Ministry of Health to strengthen the preparedness of health workers and healthcare facilities to respond effectively to outbreaks.
According to Dr German, improving health workers’ understanding of infection prevention and control is critical to strengthening the health system’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, including Ebola.
Meanwhile, Kagera Regional Laboratory Coordinator Emmanuel Mkumbo said the assessment team visited various areas of Nyakahanga Hospital to evaluate the quality of healthcare services and the implementation of infection prevention and control measures.
Mkumbo said the assessment identified several positive practices already implemented at the hospital, while also highlighting areas with gaps that require improvement.
He said the findings would help identify areas that need strengthening and improve the hospital’s preparedness and effectiveness in responding to disease outbreaks.
The exercise is part of broader efforts to strengthen infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
