The Tanzanian government has urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue observing preventive measures against infectious disease outbreaks, particularly cholera, by strictly following public health guidelines.
Authorities emphasized the importance of using clean and safe water, maintaining good hygiene practices, and utilizing proper sanitation facilities as key strategies to curb the spread of the disease.
The renewed call to action comes amid growing concern over the potential for cholera outbreaks in various regions of the country.
The appeal was made in Dar es Salaam by Dr. Vida Mmbaga, Assistant Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, who spoke on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer during a technical meeting on verifying cholera-prone areas (PAMIs). The meeting was jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Mmbaga stressed the need for continued collaboration between local authorities, development partners, and communities to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure early detection and response to outbreaks.
Dr. Vida Mmbaga emphasized the critical importance of maintaining hygiene at both individual and community levels to prevent cholera transmission. She urged the public to use treated or boiled water and proper sanitation facilities, noting that cholera is caused by bacteria found in human feces, which can contaminate water or food when proper hygiene is not observed.
"Through this technical meeting, the government is working with stakeholders to develop a joint strategy to control cholera outbreaks—particularly in areas that are repeatedly affected," Dr. Mmbaga stated.
She added that the Tanzanian government has been proactive in distributing water purification tablets as part of a broader public health strategy. Dr. Mmbaga also noted that Tanzania is among the countries committed to the global goal of reducing cholera cases by over 90 percent by 2030, aligning with international efforts to eliminate the disease.
Representing the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Dick Chamla, Head of Emergencies at WHO’s Africa Regional Office (WHO-Afro), praised Tanzania for its sustained partnership with WHO in combating infectious diseases. He highlighted that WHO has launched a comprehensive global strategy to fight cholera and supports affected countries in their elimination efforts.
Dr. Chamla reaffirmed WHO's commitment to working alongside the Tanzanian government to strengthen disease prevention, improve public awareness, and ensure timely responses to outbreaks.