This is a report1 of a rapid appraisal (RA) of health problems in Mbeya, Tanzania. The workshop was divided into three phases: ~· introduction to the methodology; ~· data collection; and ~· formulation of a plan of action. ~Fieldwork was carried out in three wards chosen by the municipal medical officer. All three wards were squatter areas. Two were areas of high concentration of population. The third was a peri-urban ward in which the main source of income was still farming. In addition, this ward had key officials who lived some distance from the area and thus had limited contact with the residents and their problems. As a result, this ward presented problems not encountered in the two more urbanised wards and posed different challenges for the rapid appraisal methodology.