In Tanzania, the fight against epidemics begins long before the first case is detected. While Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) training has reached national and subnational levels, a critical gap remains as future doctors, nurses, and environmental health officers often graduate without formal exposure to surveillance competencies. 

This quarter marks a turning point. With support from the Pandemic Fund, a planning meeting charted the roadmap and established a Technical Working Group, while stakeholder consultations brought together representatives from health training institutions and university lecturers to identify gaps in existing curricula. Faculty have since been oriented using tailored teaching guides and reference materials on IDSR, ensuring they can confidently deliver surveillance content. 

By engaging 18 health training institutions and three universities, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Sokoine University, and the University of Dodoma, Tanzania is institutionalizing IDSR in pre-service education. 

The result will be a sustainable pipeline of professionals equipped to detect, report, and respond to public health threats. Strengthening resilience and safeguarding communities for generations to come.