WaterAid Tanzania’s project in Kisarawe District, Coast Region, has made significant strides in enhancing access to safe and dignified sanitation and hygiene services in local schools and healthcare facilities.
The project, titled “Effectiveness of Hygiene Behavior in Schools and Healthcare Facilities,” ran from 2021 to 2024 and was implemented across 45 institutions, including 30 schools and 15 healthcare facilities.
At a dissemination workshop held in Dar es Salaam yesterday, attended by Minister for Industry and Trade Selemani Jafo, Dr Happiness Willbroad, Head of Programmes at WaterAid Tanzania, shared an overview of the project’s impact.
Dr. Willbroad highlighted the positive changes experienced by thousands of students, teachers, and healthcare workers due to the initiative.
The project focused on enhancing WASH infrastructure and services by constructing latrines, handwashing stations, and water connections and storage facilities. It directly benefited 13,580 students, 240 teachers, and 60 healthcare facility staff.
Key achievements included the construction of rain harvesting systems with a 20,000-liter capacity, 72 improved sanitation facilities, and 19 new accessible latrines in schools and healthcare facilities.
Additionally, the project developed two comprehensive hygiene packages providing step-by-step guidance for conducting hygiene sessions and implementing behavior change campaigns in the 30 schools and 15 healthcare facilities involved.
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In her opening remarks, WaterAid Tanzania Country Director Ms Anna Mzinga emphasised the transformative impact of the new infrastructure. However, she also stressed that infrastructure alone is not enough to create lasting change.
“The behavior change interventions were crucial in empowering communities and embedding lifelong hygiene practices,” Ms Mzinga noted.
Minister Jafo, who is also the MP for Kisarawe warned about the economic and health impacts of waterborne diseases. He commended WaterAid and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for their contributions.
“The challenge of waterborne diseases, particularly among children, has been significant. The WASH infrastructure and awareness campaigns are crucial steps towards addressing this issue,” he said.
He highlighted that the project has successfully supported Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, and SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring access to water and sanitation for all.
Minister Jafo urged Kisarawe District officials and experts to continue making positive changes in sanitation and personal hygiene, recommending budget allocations for infrastructure maintenance and collaboration with stakeholders.
“This can be achieved by maintaining our infrastructure and ensuring continued cooperation in the implementation of various projects,” he added.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.
President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.
“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”
A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.
“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.
WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”
Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.
“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”
Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.
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In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.
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