EECC Training Expands in Songwe – Vwawa District Hospital Aims for 100% Coverage

This May and June, a major step forward is underway in the roll-out of Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) in Tanzania. As part of the EECCiT programme (EECC in Tanzania), seven in-person training courses are being delivered across Songwe region—equipping healthcare workers with the skills to save lives using simple, effective treatments.

At the heart of this expansion is Vwawa District Hospital, where we’re aiming for something ambitious: 100% of acute care staff trained in EECC. This makes Vwawa the only hospital in Tanzania being developed as an “EECC centre of excellence.”

What Is EECC?

Essential Emergency and Critical Care (EECC) is a package of low-cost, life-saving interventions that should be available to all critically ill patients, in all hospitals. These include:

• Monitoring vital signs

• Giving oxygen to patients in respiratory distress

• Providing intravenous fluids to treat shock

• Managing blocked airways and unconsciousness

• Preventing infections and relieving pain

These are basic, essential actions—but when missed, patients can quickly deteriorate. EECC helps healthcare workers spot danger signs early and respond effectively.

A Practical, In-Person Training

The new three-days on-site EECC training course was developed in 2024-2025 as part of the collaborative programme EECC in Tanzania (EECCiT) by Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Tanzania, the Tanzanian Ministry of Health and President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, and colleagues in health facilities across Tanzania, with the financial support of Global Affairs Canada through the “CanGive” initiative.

Course attendees practicing EECC skills in the classroom

It focuses on recognising and treating critical illness in any hospital setting. It is freely available at www.eeccglobal.org/training, and is designed to be practical and hands-on.

Key topics include:

• Early identification of critical illness using vital signs

• Airway management, including clearing obstructions and using simple devices

• Breathing support, such as oxygen therapy and assisted ventilation

• Circulation management, including stopping bleeding and fluid resuscitation

• Responding to unconsciousness, including seizure and glucose management

• Other essential care, like infection prevention and early mobilisation

The courses are designed for all levels of clinicians and nurses working in acute care.

Why Songwe—and Why Vwawa?

EECC training is being rolled out across six regions in Tanzania, with Songwe playing a leading role. Seven training sessions are planned in Songwe during May and June.

In most regions, either 40% or 80% of healthcare workers in acute care are being trained. But in Vwawa District Hospital, the aim is for every single acute healthcare worker—100%—to complete the training.

Vwawa is also receiving extra support to make sure EECC is fully implemented. This includes supervision, systems strengthening, and the focus needed to ensure care is delivered reliably and consistently.

Why such a focus on one hospital? Because creating a place where EECC is done to the highest standard can serve as both a teaching hub and a research site. It shows what’s possible when care is done right—and gives others a chance to learn from it.

Attendees and trainers at one of the in-person training courses

A National Commitment

This training is part of a bigger vision: the Tanzanian government’s National Strategic Plan for EECC. The goal is to make EECC a routine part of hospital care, so that every patient—no matter where they are—gets the basic care they need to survive critical illness.

EECC isn’t about high-tech equipment. It’s about making sure patients are monitored, given oxygen, treated for shock, and cared for with attention and urgency. When done well, it saves lives.

Find Out More

If you’re a healthcare worker, educator, or policymaker, you can access the full EECC training materials for free at www.eeccglobal.org/training. The resources are open to all and designed to be used in any setting.

As training continues across Songwe—and as Vwawa becomes a national model for EECC excellence—we’re excited to see how these efforts will improve patient care and outcomes.