Dodoma -The Management and Development for Health (MDH) handed over stationaries and ICT equipment worth over 105m/=Tshs to the Ministry of Health to strengthen surveillance of infectious diseases and laboratory testing for pathogens like influenza and COVID -19.
MDH donated the equipment with support from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the Global Health Security Program. It is part of the US government’s efforts through CDC to support the ministry to improve data management and reporting in the context of COVID -19.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony in Dodoma, MDH Chief Operating Officer, Dr Nzovu Ulenga on behalf of Chief Executive Officer said the donated equipment includes laptops, projectors, printers, tablets, WIFI routers, Modern GPS reader machines, Software, Operating system, and stationery supplies all worth 105,15,048.98/=Tshs.
He said the equipment will help the ministry in preparation of its scientific laboratory reports and publications.
He said that strengthening surveillance of infectious diseases and laboratory testing is important and requires the ministry to have capacity to recognize causes of the diseases, report cases on time and be able to fight the diseases by following internal and international guidelines.
“MDH and CDC is aware of the importance of timely reporting of the disease outbreak to centers that work to control epidemic diseases especially respiratory diseases which are epidemic potential,” Dr Nzovu said.
In his remarks also appreciated the continued support from the Ministry of Health and CDC. “We would like to thank the government of Tanzania for their continued support to MDH and we are honored for technical and financial support from our donor CDC Tanzania to improve the health and lives for our fellow Tanzanians”. Dr Nzovu explained
Dr. Rogath Kishimba, Acting Director (Epidemiology and Disease Control) in the Ministry of Health said: “We appreciated the support from MDH, and it is our hope that you will continue to support the government’s efforts in controlling both communicable and non-communicable diseases.”
Dr. Kishimba added that since the department is responsible for disease surveillance and reporting, the donated items would ensure early detection and timely reporting of cases.
He said early detection would help the government in taking combative measures to curb the spread of epidemic diseases.
CDC supports activities to strengthen disease surveillance such as equipping ILI/SARI sentinel sites, supporting upgrade of the electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (eIDSR), improving border health screening processes (Afya Msafiri system development, support of electronic equipment), enhancing laboratory testing for pathogens like influenza, Ebola as well as COVID-19 and establishing national plus subnational Emergency Operation Centers.
Through Global Health Security funding MDH has worked with MOH to conduct supportive supervision in 13 ILI/ARI/SARI sentinel sites, as well as conduct mentorship in these sites.
Other activities under ITF-GHSA funding include supporting the establishment of the COVID-19 ECHO platform at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), procurement and distribution of supplies for critical care management of COVID-19 cases, and development of electronic systems to support disease surveillance and response.
