Community Health Workers in Songwe use digital tools to detect disease outbreaks faster

Songwe - For years, communities in Songwe Region in western Tanzania have faced recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera, measles, and Mpox. Delays in paper-based reporting systems often meant that health authorities learned about outbreaks only after they had already spread.

Now, a new electronic surveillance system is helping change that.

Through the rollout of electronic Event-Based Surveillance (e-EBS), 400 Community Health Workers (CHWs) across five councils in Songwe have been trained to detect and report potential disease outbreaks in real time using mobile technology.

During two-day training sessions conducted in each council, CHWs learned how to send alerts using mobile applications, USSD codes, and SMS-based reporting. The system allows suspected health threats to be reported within hours, enabling district health teams to respond faster.

"With electronic event-based surveillance, we can now receive alerts within hours instead of days," said Dr Boniface Mwita, District Medical Officer for Momba District Council. "This training is not just about technology, it is about saving lives."

The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen early detection of disease outbreaks across Tanzania. Electronic event-based surveillance is already being implemented in seven regions covering 38 councils. The current expansion phase includes Songwe, Rukwa, and Katavi regions, covering a total of 14 councils.

With support from the Pandemic Fund, the Government of Tanzania aims to expand the system to 90 districts across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, significantly improving the country's ability to detect and respond to health threats.

For frontline health workers serving remote communities, the new system is transforming how they work.

"Before, I had to travel to the health facility to report suspected cases," said Barnabas Godigodi, a Community Health Worker from Mbozi District. "Now I can send an alert immediately using my phone. It feels empowering to know that we can act faster to protect our communities."

The initiative supports Tanzania's digital health priorities and strengthens the country's disease surveillance system by connecting community-level reporting directly with district health authorities.

By enabling faster reporting and response, Songwe Region is building a stronger early warning system. One that helps ensure potential outbreaks are detected early, and communities are protected.