The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), in collaboration with the UDSM DHIS2 Lab and key national stakeholders, has successfully conducted a series of regional capacity-building trainings in Njombe, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, and Mwanza in preparation for the nationwide rollout of the 2025 School Malaria Parasitaemia Survey (SMPS).
The trainings focused on equipping participants with practical, hands-on skills in the use of the SMPS mobile application. Participants were guided through digital data capture processes, real-time validation and error-checking mechanisms, and the application’s offline capabilities to support data collection in low-connectivity settings.
Through field simulations and scenario-based exercises, teams gained real-world experience in collecting high-quality, standardised data on malaria prevalence and key nutrition indicators among school-aged children. Emphasis was also placed on data quality assurance, troubleshooting, and adherence to national survey protocols.
This coordinated effort represents a major milestone in strengthening Tanzania’s digital health surveillance systems, ensuring the availability of timely, accurate, and reliable data to support evidence-based decision-making in malaria control and broader public health interventions nationwide.
The selected regions served as zonal training hubs, strategically bringing together regional and council-level implementation teams from across the country. This zonal approach ensured comprehensive national coverage, enabling efficient knowledge transfer and consistent preparation of all teams involved in the SMPS rollout.