Tanzania Convenes IHR Technical Working Group in Arusha to Strengthen Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Pandemic Fund-supported meeting brings together key stakeholders to assess progress and set priority actions for closing gaps in Tanzania’s health security systems

Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and partners, has convened an International Health Regulations Technical Working Group meeting in Arusha, bringing together stakeholders from across government and the health sector to review progress and sharpen the country’s readiness to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies.

Held from 24 to 27 March 2026 with support from the Pandemic Fund, the meeting assessed implementation of IHR core capacities for the period January to March 2026 and developed a set of priority actions for the April to June quarter — maintaining the structured accountability cycle that has become a hallmark of Tanzania’s approach to health security planning.

Beyond Reporting: Demonstrating Real Impact

National IHR Focal Point Dr. Vida Mmbaga set the tone for the discussions by urging participants to move beyond routine reporting and focus on demonstrable outcomes. “This assessment must clearly show the impact we are making in strengthening systems that support timely prevention, detection, notification, and response to public health events,” she said.

She stressed the importance of aligning priority actions with both the National Action Plan for Health Security and the 7-1-7 target — a global benchmark calling for public health threats to be detected within seven days, notified within one day, and responded to within seven days of detection.

One Health and Multisectoral Engagement

Director of Preventive Services Dr. Otilia Gowelle underscored that building resilient public health emergency systems is inherently a cross-sectoral endeavour. “Engaging all key sectors is essential to achieving meaningful impact,” she said, reinforcing the One Health approach that recognises the deep interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health in managing public health risks.

WHO Recognises Tanzania’s Regional Leadership

WHO Emergency Preparedness and Response Cluster Lead Dr. Faraja Msemwa commended Tanzania for its sustained commitment to IHR implementation, noting that the country ranks among the leading nations in the African region for consistently submitting Mandatory State Party Annual Assessment reports. She pointed to steady progress across IHR capacities in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, as evidenced by the country’s performance in State Party Annual Reporting and Joint External Evaluation assessments.

“WHO remains committed to supporting Tanzania to achieve even greater advancements in implementing the IHR,” she said.

The IHR Technical Working Group meets quarterly, providing a structured platform to review implementation against the Annual Operational Plan derived from Tanzania’s five-year National Action Plan for Health Security. Through its cycle of accountability, coordination, and evidence-based planning, the TWG plays a central role in sustaining Tanzania’s capacity to safeguard its population — and contribute to global health security — in the face of evolving public health threats.