Tanzania trains healthcare professionals in preparedness for Ebola outbreak

RUKWA: THE Tanzanian government, through the Ministry of Health, has continued to strengthen the country’s preparedness to respond to Ebola by conducting practical training for healthcare professionals as part of broader efforts to enhance the health system’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond rapidly to disease outbreaks.

The remarks were made by the Rukwa Regional Medical Officer, Dr Ibrahim Isack, during a joint supervision exercise and hands-on training on outbreak preparedness and response. He said adequate preparedness is fundamental to minimizing the impact of disease outbreaks and protecting public health.

“Ebola is a disease that requires a high level of vigilance and swift action. Healthcare workers must be able to recognize early warning signs, report suspected cases promptly, and initiate immediate control measures to prevent the spread of infection,” Dr Isack said.

He explained that the practical training provides an opportunity to assess the performance of health services under conditions that closely simulate a real outbreak, enabling authorities to identify existing gaps and develop strategies to address them before a public health emergency occurs.

ALSO READ: Tanzania bolsters its emergency and critical care systems in preparedness for Ebola outbreak

Dr Isack emphasized that effective control of disease outbreaks depends on close collaboration among healthcare professionals, health sector leaders and other relevant institutions to ensure that every level of the health system fulfills its responsibilities efficiently and on time.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Emergency Medicine Specialist Dr Michael Kiremeji said the training is designed to strengthen the competence of healthcare workers in delivering safe medical services while adhering to professional protocols during outbreak response.

He noted that the initiative enhances the safety of both patients and healthcare workers while improving the overall capacity of the country’s health system to respond to public health emergencies.

Dr Kiremeji added that the Ministry of Health will continue working with various stakeholders to conduct similar practical training and joint supervision exercises across the country to further strengthen Tanzania’s preparedness to prevent, detect and control disease outbreaks, while safeguarding the health of its citizens.