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Tanzanian Health Authorities on High Alert to Stop Coronavirus

Charles Kombe

   DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA - Dar es Salaam'sKariakooMarket is the biggest
   in Tanzania and depends on manufactured products imported from
   China.But the outbreak of the COVID-19diseasehas dried up shipments
   from China.

   KhalfanHawadi, a mobile phone trader, said the coronavirus has led to
   problems with keeping stock up to date. When a trader needs acertain
   type of phone,he said, it can't be obtained on time -- and meanwhile,
   the price rises.

   Those close trade ties with China make Tanzania one of the African
   countries most at risk of importing COVID-19.

   Health authorities are on high alert. The assistant director of
   epidemiology at the Ministry of Health, Dr. JanethMgamba, said
   officials hadtaken all precautions.

   A key thing that's been done, he said, "is to strengthen the port of
   entry because, as you know now, our threat is now coming from the 58
   infected countries, including China. We have employed more staff in the
   port of entry, and we have built their capacity to be able to detect
   the cases."

   Tanzania's Health Ministry said140 thermal scanners hadbeen set up in
   all ports of entry. GeorgeNdaki,a health officer with Tanzania Airports
   Authority,said some suspected cases had been detected, which showed the
   machines were working properly. He also said thatin additionto the
   scanning equipment, ambulances have been standing byto take patients to
   hospitals.

   Mobile lab

   In Tanzania's more remote areas, such as the tourist city of Arusha,
   the East African Community's Mobile Lab project helps testforsuspected
   coronavirus infections.

   Dr. MunaAffara,a laboratory diagnostic coordinator, said that "ifthe
   outbreak occurs in remote areas, where there may not be diagnostic
   capacity, the idea is that the mobile laboratory can move quickly and
   set themselves up in these remote areas and then start diagnosing
   cases."

   Meanwhile, Tanzanian doctors such as KelvinKaziriare urging everyone to
   take precautions to avoid the virus.

   Kazirisaidthe biggest partof the precautionsinvolves personal
   hygiene--washing hands with soap, avoiding physical contact with others
   and covering the mouth when coughing.

   But at the busy market in Dar es Salaam, avoiding physical contact is a
   challenge for traders likeHawadi.

   Even though the coronavirus is a threat to traders'health, without
   regular shipments of Chinese products, it's a bigger threat to their
   livelihoods.

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