Zanzibar - The United Republic of Tanzania has launched a week-long induction training for Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), marking a significant step in strengthening the country's capacity for emergency preparedness and response. The initiative reflects the Government's continued commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all Tanzanians.

The training brings together responders from national and subnational levels-including ministries, departments and agencies, health institutions, and partner organizations. With financial support from the Pandemic Fund, technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), and contributions from key partners, the programme is designed to build a well-coordinated, rapidly deployable national EMT that meets international standards.

In recent years, Tanzania has responded to a range of public health emergencies, including cholera outbreaks, Marburg virus disease, humanitarian crises, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These experiences have underscored the importance of strong national systems that can effectively detect, respond to, and recover from health threats. The EMT initiative forms part of broader efforts under the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and aligns with the Health Sector Strategic Plan V, both aimed at building a resilient and people-centred health system.

Speaking during the opening session, the Director General of the Ministry of Health Zanzibar, Dr. Amour Mohammed, acknowledged delegates from Mainland Tanzania, partners, and newly inducted EMT members, and emphasized the critical role of EMTs in emergency response.

"Emergency Medical Teams are the frontline of any effective disaster response. Building a well-trained, self-sufficient team is essential to ensuring that our national response is clinically sharp, logistically ready, and mentally resilient," he said. "The Ministry remains fully committed to establishing a fully equipped and deployment-ready EMT. I urge all participants to remain engaged throughout this training, emergencies can arise at any time, from disease outbreaks to chemical incidents and mass-casualty events."

Representing the Chief Medical Officer for Mainland Tanzania, Dr. Joseph Hokororo highlighted the progress made since the country first committed to establishing a national EMT, including the development of a national roadmap.

"This induction training marks a key milestone in our journey," he noted. "We expect this team to be ready to respond to all hazards, and we remain committed to working closely with all partners to ensure its successful establishment. We have full confidence in the expertise and dedication of the selected members to effectively manage public health emergencies."

On behalf of the World Health Organization, Dr. Galbert Fedjo, Health Systems Coordinator, reaffirmed WHO's commitment to supporting Tanzania throughout the process.

"This intensive training is designed to move professionals toward full deployment readiness, equipping them to respond to cholera, flooding, disease outbreaks, and cross-border health emergencies," he said.

"We commend the Government of Tanzania, both Mainland and Zanzibar, for its strong leadership and commitment, and we thank all partners for their collaboration. WHO will continue to support every stage of this journey, from training to governance, standard operating procedures, and eventual classification. We will walk this road together."

As emergencies become more frequent and complex globally, Tanzania's proactive approach demonstrates its determination to strengthen health security. The EMT induction training in Zanzibar represents another concrete step toward building a robust, agile, and resilient emergency response system, capable of protecting communities and saving lives.