Directorate Public Health and Disease Surveillance

The Public Health and Disease Surveillance Directorate (PHDS) serves as a cornerstone of Kibong’oto
Infectious Diseases Hospital (KIDH), dedicated to safeguarding population health through integrated public
health services, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness. The Directorate coordinates activities
that strengthen early detection, response, and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases,
ensuring timely interventions that protect both patients and the wider community.
The Directorate is composed of four key sections:

• Public Health Laboratory (KPHL): A state-of-the-art Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility providing

advanced diagnostic, reference testing, and research services for infectious diseases, including
tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging pathogens. The laboratory supports national
and regional surveillance programs through high-quality testing, quality assurance, and capacity
building for laboratory networks across Tanzania. It provides training and fellowships to health care
providers, and biomedical scientists. It implements a comprehensive Quality Management System,
and its procedures have been ISO 15189 accredited by SADCAS since 2017. The laboratory is
equipped with sophisticated phenotypic and molecular diagnostic platforms, including PCR
(conventional, real-time, and digital PCR), sequencing technologies, immunoassays, chemistry
analyzers, hematology analyzers, and HLA typing capabilities. The laboratory also houses
biobanking services and has capacity to house up to 47,000 litres of biospecimens. The lab is
currently transitioning to tuberculosis reference laboratory

• Environmental Health Services: This section focuses on promoting a safe and healthy

environment within the hospital and surrounding communities. The section maintains environmental
standards that prevent the spread of infections. Its main roles include waste management, water
quality monitoring, vector and pest control, environmental sanitation and vaccination, ensuring
compliance with national health and safety standards. The section operates two state-of-the-art,
high-technology incinerators that support effective waste management and address biosafety and
biosecurity concerns.

• Community Health Services: This section is responsible for strengthening community-based

disease surveillance, health education, and health promotion activities. It works closely with national
and international community stakeholders to increase awareness, encourage preventive health
behaviors, and enhance early disease reporting and response at the community level. The section
also provides technical expertise on chronic respiratory diseases such as silicosis.

• Emergency Preparedness and Response servcies: This unit leads efforts to prepare for and

respond to public health emergencies, including outbreaks, pandemics, and natural disasters. It
ensures readiness through risk assessment, training, simulation exercises, and coordination with
local and national emergency response systems.