Responding to the ongoing cholera outbreak in Tanzania, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have partnered with the Tanzania Ministry of Health to implement cholera prevention activities, deploy health experts to affected areas, and improve access to clean water.
USAID has allocated TSH 480 million to assist the most impacted communities in Tanzania in response to a request for assistance from the Ministry of Health. Additionally, the CDC has supported the deployment of health professionals into six regions through the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program. These efforts aim to enhance health education on water, sanitation, and hygiene practices, encourage seeking care for the sick, conduct household assessments of WASH practices, and distribute water purification tablets.
U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania Michael Battle expressed the commitment of the United States to support Tanzania in combatting cholera, emphasizing the importance of prevention and saving lives. USAID’s $50 million commitment focuses on improving water infrastructure and community awareness to provide safe water and sanitation to over two million Tanzanians. Plans for 2024 include building new water systems and sewage treatment facilities to expand access to clean water and enhance the management of existing WASH projects.
Since September 2023, Tanzania has experienced a surge in cholera cases, with over 2,500 reported cases and 46 fatalities. Although the Ministry of Health’s response has led to a decrease in infections and the end of the outbreak declaration in seven regions, 12 regions still face active outbreaks, particularly Simiyu, Shinyanga, and Mwanza.
Click here for tips on preventing cholera: Cholera Prevention Steps
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Tanzania.