DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's health authorities said on Thursday plans are underway to build a special health center for epidemics in the country's northwestern border region of Kagera.
The Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu said since the Kagera region is bordered by Uganda to the north, and Rwanda and Burundi to the west, it was prone to outbreaks of epidemics from the neighboring countries.
Mwalimu revealed the plan when she addressed health officials in the wake of an outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
Mwalimu said currently the government was building a special health center for epidemics at the Muhimbili National Hospital's Mloganzila Teaching Hospital in the suburbs of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
On Tuesday, Mwalimu visited the country's border with Uganda to inspect the state of preparedness and contingency plans against the outbreak of Ebola in Uganda.
Uganda on Sept. 20 announced the outbreak of the rare Sudan Ebola strain after a 24-year-old male tested positive for the disease after being admitted to hospital. ■