United Republic of Tanzania News

The Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Hon. Ummy Mwalimu (MP), conducted a fact finding operation on the Cholera outbreak currently ongoing in the country.  Her programme included a Cholera Press Conference, an inspection of Mburahati Cholera Treatment Centre and an observation of DAWASCO water pipes in a sewerage trench in Manzese Ward. WHO staff were present in all the Minister’s activities.

Summary of Ministers’ Cholera Press Conference

Simiyu Region, January 2016 - Simiyu is among the 22 regions in Tanzania which have been hard hit by the cholera outbreak in the country. The region started reporting cholera on 24th December 2015. By 20th January, 2016 a total of 153 cases had been reported out of which 115 occurred in the previous 14 days.

A total of 10 deaths had also been reported. Most of these cases are reported from Bariadi and Busega districts with cases coming mainly from villages along the banks of the river Duma which separates the two districts.

Mwanza, 10 February 2016 —The on-going cholera outbreak in Tanzania has affected more than 15,000 people and claimed over 230 lives from 23 Regions. Seven out of the 23 affected Regions from the Lake Zone namely: Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Kigoma, Geita, Tabora and Shinyanga, have contributed 51% of the reported cases and 62% of the reported deaths.

Dar es Salaam, 11 February 2016- Crowded areas such as fishing camps, refugee camps, prisons, military and police barracks and schools are vulnerable to outbreaks of communicable diseases like cholera. The government of Tanzania continues to battle the on-going wide spread cholera outbreak which has up-to-date affected 23 out of the 25 Regions in the country.

Mara, 11 February 2016 -- Mara Region is among the 23 Regions affected by the on-going cholera outbreak in Tanzania. As of 11 February, the Region has reported 1,307 cases cumulatively with 44 deaths.

Despite the on-going outbreak control efforts put in place by the Region, cholera transmission continues. WHO Representative, Dr. Rufaro Chatora, visited the Region to take stock of the situation and discuss with the Regional Health Team possible solutions to address the critical challenges faced by the Region.

The cholera outbreak in Tanzania started on the 15th of August 2015, and as of 20th January 2016, the country had reported more than 14,000 cases, including 222 deaths (representing 1.6% case fatality rate).

The current outbreak is unique because of its vast geographical spread within a short time while containment has proved to be an enormous challenge. It has so far affected 25 of the 28 administrative regions of the country and Zanzibar.

The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) and Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Road Safety Programme are implementing a 5-year Road Safety Programme (2015-19) that aims at reducing the risk of road traffic crashes in the country. This aims at ensuring that there are good road safety laws which address drinking and driving, seat belts, child restraints and helmets use.

WHO joined the East African Diabetes Study Group (EADSG) in an NCD symposium held recently to share best practices and progress of NCD interventions across countries. The two day symposium was attended by among others, delegates from the Diabetes Study group, World Diabetes Foundation, Ministries of Health of 15 countries in East, Central and Southern Africa, the African Union, NCD Alliance, WHO country offices, WHO Inter country Support Team and the Regional Office for Africa.

A 3-day workshop to review and finalize the All Hazard Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan was held in the Veta Conference Hall in Dodoma from 18thApril 2016 to 20thApril 2016. This workshop which was organized by the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOHCDGEC) brought together participants from the Emergency Preparedness and Response Section (EPRS) of the MOHCDGEC, WHO, CDC, Ministry of Home Affairs, Academic Institution and the Private Sector.

01. At the Chumbuni Cholera Treatment Centre, Dr Chatora is briefed on the structure, resources, and functioning of the center

02. The center's staff is observed as it manages a patient in line with the case management protocols

03. Listening to the community on the social mobilisation activities being undertaken to raise the level of cholera awareness, personnal hygiene, treatment seeking practises, etc

04. Walking in the community to see the environmental conditions and their contribution to the persistance transmission and of the outbreak