Head Quarters
Mbamba Bay Katumbi Street, Plot No. 24
P.O.Box 90 Nyasa, Ruvuma, Tanzania
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Songwe Sub-Office:
Tunduma, P.O. Box 159, Momba – Tanzania
A health alert has been issued in Mexico following an increase in New World screwworm cases affecting pets and livestock. Authorities emphasize early detection, wound management, and prompt veterinary care to prevent severe complications.
A new study reveals that Escherichia coli can be induced to produce antimicrobial compounds by activating dormant genetic pathways, offering promising new directions for antibiotic discovery and antimicrobial resistance control
SOHICOHE is inviting applications for a Volunteer Social Worker to support office coordination, community engagement, and field activities at the Tunduma sub-office.
Disease intelligence reports released in mid to late December 2025 by ProMED reveal a complex and evolving outbreak landscape across the African region, marked by simultaneous increases in waterborne, vaccine-preventable, respiratory, vector-borne, and zoonotic diseases. Multiple cholera outbreaks, some with reported fatalities, have been documented in the Democratic Republic of Congo (including Kinshasa and Lomami Province), Malawi (Lilongwe and Balaka districts), and Burundi, particularly affecting densely populated urban settings and refugee camps—highlighting persistent gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. At the same time, measles outbreaks with fatal cases have been reported in Angola and Uganda, signaling ongoing immunization coverage challenges among school-age populations. Additional alerts include rising Influenza A (H3N2) incidence in Algeria, increased malaria transmission with deaths in Sudan, and continued circulation of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in Angola, alongside confirmed diphtheria outbreaks in Somalia where vaccination campaigns are underway. High-fatality zoonotic threats such as Lassa fever in Nigeria and rabies cases among seals in Namibia further underscore the importance of a One Health approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Collectively, these outbreaks demonstrate heightened regional vulnerability driven by population movement, climate variability, strained health systems, and surveillance gaps, reinforcing the urgent need for strengthened cross-border disease monitoring, timely risk communication, and community-based prevention strategies. In response, Southern Highlands Community Health (SOHICOHE) continues to prioritize preventive health education, early warning awareness, and behavior-change interventions—particularly through School Health Clubs—as a sustainable platform to enhance preparedness, promote hygiene and vaccination uptake, and reduce the risk of disease spread at community and regional levels.
The Ministry of Health, through the Epidemiology Section, has released the Week 51 surveillance report confirming no detected cases of Influenza or COVID-19 across sentinel surveillance sites in Tanzania. SOHICOHE shares this update as part of its public health information dissemination.
Goziba Island, Muleba District – Kagera Region | 20 December 2025
Magonjwa yanayotokana na chakula ni changamoto kubwa kwa afya ya umma kote ulimwenguni, na maeneo yanayoendelea kama Afrika yakiwa na mzigo mkubwa zaidi. Kulingana na Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni (WHO), Afrika inakumbana na takriban kesi milioni 135 za magonjwa yanayotokana na chakula kila mwaka, na kusababisha vifo karibu 180,000. Athari zake nchini Tanzania ni kubwa, ambapo vijidudu kama Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), norovirus, na Campylobacter spp. huchangia kwa sehemu kubwa ya magonjwa haya. Licha ya ukubwa wa tatizo hili, mzigo wake kwa watu binafsi, familia, na mifumo ya afya mara nyingi hupuuzwa, na hatua za kuzuia zinabaki kuwa duni. Nchini Tanzania, mfumo wa ukaguzi wa usalama wa chakula unakumbwa na changamoto nyingi, hasa katika vituo vya mipakani na masoko ambako bidhaa za chakula huingia kwenye mnyororo wa usambazaji bila ukaguzi wa kutosha. Matokeo ya mapungufu haya ni makubwa, yakichangia ongezeko la magonjwa na vifo na kuathiri uzalishaji wa kiuchumi. Kukabiliana na tatizo hili kunahitaji juhudi za pamoja ili kuboresha viwango na ukaguzi wa usalama wa chakula, kulingana na kanuni za afya za kimataifa. Mashirika kama Sohicohe yanafanya juhudi za kuziba pengo hili kwa kuongeza uelewa na kukuza usalama wa chakula. Kupitia mikakati bunifu kama vile podcast za kukuza afya zinazolenga maeneo ya vijijini, wanasaidia kufikisha elimu ya usalama wa chakula kwa jamii zilizo mbali zaidi. Kwa kuzingatia hatua za kinga kama hizi, Tanzania ina nafasi ya kupunguza kwa kiasi kikubwa kuenea kwa magonjwa yanayotokana na chakula na kulinda afya ya raia wake.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has implemented a series of precautionary measures to prevent the entry and spread of Mpox in the country, following the global rise in cases. These measures include enhanced screening at ports and borders, increased community surveillance, and the readiness of healthcare facilities. Public health education campaigns have also been launched to raise awareness. Tanzanians are urged to follow preventive guidelines such as seeking medical attention for symptoms, practicing good hygiene, and avoiding direct contact with potentially infected individuals. Tanzania remains Mpox-free, but vigilance is key to maintaining this status. Source: African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA)
The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued an urgent call to African health ministers to coordinate efforts against the rapidly spreading Mpox outbreak. Since January 2024, over 21,000 cases have been reported across 13 African Union member states, with a case fatality rate of nearly 3%. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya emphasized that laboratory tests alone are insufficient for diagnosis and urged countries to adopt a holistic approach combining clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data. The need for improved testing methods and vigilant monitoring is critical to controlling the outbreak and preventing further spread across the continent.
The report highlights the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Indonesia and Thailand. Indonesia has reported 88 cases since 2022, with the majority in Jakarta and West Java, and a low fatality rate. In Thailand, over 800 cases have been identified, mostly of the less severe Clade 2's C.1 subvariant. The Democratic Republic of Congo remains the most severely impacted region, with over 16,000 cases and 581 deaths due to the more dangerous Clade 1b strain. The report emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and international efforts to control the virus's spread
