Where there was no COVID-19: strengthening health systems response to disease threats in Tabora, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

Background: In May 2020, the international non-governmental organization Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) sought to enable health systems in Tanzania to address COVID-19 health response. CARE leveraged existing partnerships with the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children and the President's Office of Regional Administration and Local Government in the largest geographic region of Tanzania, Tabora Region. At the time, the government declared Tanzania to be free from COVID-19 and did not permit partners to implement COVID-19 programming. In this context, CARE implemented integrated health systems strengthening support for government response to not only COVID-19 but also other infectious diseases.