Kigoma region has frequent population movements between neighboring countries including refugees and asylum seekers that frequently cross official and informal entry points and stay in camps and in the community.

Cultural proximity and economic activities that necessitate mingling of communities in Kigoma and neighboring countries increase the risk of disease importation and transmission.

Faced with the threat of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreak in DRC, the Regional Health Management Team (RHMT) and Council Health Management Teams (CHMTs) in Kigoma resolved to intensify community-based disease surveillance to ensure that disease outbreaks are detected and responded to timely.

A network of 253 key individuals from eight (8) councils were identified including traditional healers, religious leaders, influential persons, local NGOs and chairperson of vibrant community groups. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Kigoma RHMT and CHMTs were able to train these surveillance teams.

“By empowering a network of key individuals in the communities, we hope we will be able to rapidly detect new cases in the community and provide epidemiological information to assist with  risk assessments at national level,” said Ambakisye Mhiche, Kigoma Regional Epidemiologist.

The training covered skills on event-based community surveillance, including how to identify and report community members with signs and symptoms related to COVID-19 or Ebola disease, reporting visitors with history of travel from highly affected areas, how to engage the community in preventing spread and/or occurrence of the diseases.

 “The training has opened my eyes about COVID-19 and Ebola prevention and showed me how and where to refer someone with symptoms” said Method Daniel, a traditional healer from Nyachenda village Kasulu District Council.

“The information we have been provided with empowers us as leaders responsible for our congregations and the community. I am confident that our community will benefit from this initiative, and above all be protected from COVID-19 and Ebola diseases,” said, Reverend Dr. Abraham Ndeza, the Anglican Bishop of Kibondo.