United Republic of Tanzania News

Kigoma region has frequent population movements between neighboring countries including refugees and asylum seekers that frequently cross official and informal entry points and stay in camps and in the community.

Cultural proximity and economic activities that necessitate mingling of communities in Kigoma and neighboring countries increase the risk of disease importation and transmission.

In March 2020, when COVID-19 cases were identified in Tanzania the Government closed all education institutions, suspended sports, political rallies and international flights. However, since June the Government started easing restrictions.

The health system in Tanzania is integrating COVID-19 preventive services at districts’ health facilities and continuing other essential services, therefore moving from a centralized to a decentralized response for a better reach at community level.

Many public health events and emergencies and their associated risk factors could be prevented, or their effects mitigated. However, the health systems in most countries remain inadequate. To avert and mitigate the effects of health security risks and emergencies, countries are urged to implement Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) guidelines. These guidelines recommend thresholds for action on priority diseases, public health events and conditions and for responding to alerts. Using these action thresholds can be lifesaving.

Proper collection of samples from a human body and safely handling them to a testing laboratory is one of the key areas of response to outbreaks of highly infectious diseases, including COVID-19.  Earlier assessments by National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) identified gaps in collection of COVID-19 samples, packaging and transportation to the NPHL.

In public health emergencies such as the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, one essential lifesaving action is risk communication. This is because people have a right to know how to protect their health and have a responsibility to take informed decisions to protect themselves, their loved ones and those around them.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.  

WHO led a Field Simulation Exercise (FSX) at the Namanga One Stop Border Post and surrounding areas in both Kenya and Tanzania between June 11 to June 14. The exercise was convened by the East Africa Community (EAC).