Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - 16th January 2015 - The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) in collaboration with the Prime Ministers’ Office, Department of Disaster Management (PMO-DMD) for the first time held the high level sensitization meeting to discuss Ebola Virus Disease country preparedness. The meeting which took place in Dar es Salaam was officiated by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Donan Mmbando and Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Harrison Chinyuka.

The meeting was well attended by officials from the MOHSW and PMO-DMD; Regional Administrative Secretaries  and Regional Medical Officers from Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Rukwa, Kigoma, Kagera, Mwanza and Mbeya Regions; Representatives from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Land, Ministry of Livestock, Tanzania Airports Authority, TMA, SUMATRA, TPDF, TFDA, Fire and Rescue ; Representatives from Research and Training institutions of SUA, NIMR, APHTA and development partners including staff from WHO, CDC, UNICEF and UNESCO. Others present in the meeting were the Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Magreth Mhando; the WHO Representative, Dr. Rufaro Chatora and the CDC Country Director, Dr. Michelle Roland. 

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary MOHSW, Dr. Donan Mmbando thanked the Prime Minister’s Office for organizing the meeting so timely, as the sectors are preparing their plans and budgets for the next financial year. He then briefed participants on the objectives of the meeting including: to provide updates on country’s preparedness for Ebola; to share lessons learnt from the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa and to agree on important actions to be taken to strengthen country’s preparedness to the threat of Ebola. Emphasizing on the importance of multisectoral joint action, he said, “The Ebola Outbreak in West Africa is an unprecedented health crisis in terms of size, severity and complexity. We must therefore act fast in our preparations because we don’t know when the disease will strike”. He urged participants to critically discuss the current health system challenges and propose a way forward to improve country preparedness towards the threat of Ebola.

The Preamble was followed by an elaborate presentation by the WHO Representative; Dr. Rufaro Chatora on the subject covering important theme including: the Natural history of Ebola Virus Disease; the current situation of EVD in West Africa; Lessons learnt and challenges from the EVD in West Africa; Essential elements for control of outbreaks; International Health Regulations and country obligations.

The second presentation was made by the Assistant Director, Epidemiology Department in MOHSW, Dr. Janneth Mghamba highlighting the history of VHF in Tanzania; the Public Health response to the current Ebola threat; current gaps and recommendations.

Highlights of the discussions included:

• Prioritizing disease emergency  preparedness: Every sector to include in their respective plans emergency preparedness activities and allocate resources accordingly

• Screening protocol at Ports of Entry: Emphasis was on the importance of collaboration between the health officer and the immigration officer at PoE in ensuring screening protocol is implemented regardless of individual status. MOHSW to ensure availability of triple packages in the high risk regions.

• Laboratory service capacity: The need to strengthen country capacity to conduct laboratory diagnosis for Ebola Virus Disease services. To work with the Ministry of Transport, Immigration and Customs Departments to fast track sample transportation from the regions to the National Lab and thereafter to KEMRI/Nairobi.

• National Taskforce: To consider expanding membership of the taskforce to include the private sector and Fire & Rescue Department

• Training and Information sharing: Involve training institutions in the training activities including development of messages for the public

• WHO Representative elaboration: on the importance of focusing preparedness activities and carrying out decisions based on the scientific facts about Ebola Virus Disease transmission, the use of entry screening protocols, the need to institute immediate basic preparedness measures with available resources, the need to ensure high levels of awareness among the health work force through training and the general public through regular sharing of information.

In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Donan Mmbando, called unto the participants to: 

• Revise their respective plans based on the orientations received including allocating resources for preparedness activities and resubmit 

• Focus preparedness activities on the high risk regions and implement activities based on the scientific facts about Ebola Virus Disease transmission 

• Ensure regular and prompt information sharing at all levels to facilitate decision making and prevent rumors and panic in the public

• Regularly access current updates on the Ebola Virus Disease