Morogoro - With financial support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Tanzania in taking a major step toward strengthening its readiness for future pandemics through the development of a National Respiratory Pathogen Pandemic Preparedness Plan.

From 15–19 September 2025, a multi-sectoral workshop was held in Morogoro, bringing together experts and partners from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA), research institutions, and development partners including FAO and Amref.

Guided by the WHO Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET) Module 1, participants collaborated to design a comprehensive strategy that strengthens surveillance, coordination, detection, reporting, and response to respiratory pathogen outbreaks — including those with pandemic potential.

The plan provides a strategic roadmap for coordinated response mechanisms, enhanced laboratory capacity, risk communication, and the continuity of essential services during public health emergencies. Once finalized, it will serve as a national guide to ensure Tanzania can respond swiftly and effectively to future respiratory threats, minimizing health, social, and economic impacts.

The draft plan is currently being refined and will soon undergo stakeholder validation before submission for official endorsement.