Amref Health Africa- Tanzania (Amref) has formally begun a revolutionary project to improve epilepsy care and support for individuals with neurological illnesses in partnership with the Tanzanian government through the Ministry of Health. Targeting the districts of Bahi and Chamwino as pilot districts for scalable, community-based epilepsy care, the new initiative, named “Enhancing Epilepsy Care in Africa (EECA),” was formally introduced in Dodoma.

The Ministry of Health (MOH), the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), the Tanzania Epilepsy Association (TEA), the Parents Organisation for Children with Epilepsy in Tanzania (POCET), the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), the University of Antwerp, Belgium and Amref Health Africa Tanzania are all partners in the three-year project, which will run from January 1, 2025, to December 30, 2027. The BAND Foundation and the UCB Innovation for Health Equity Fund are the project’s funding sources.

People with epilepsy, parents, carers and families of those with epilepsy, as well as community leaders, medical professionals and policymakers, are the project’s target audience.

Amref Tanzania’s programs on Strengthening Health Systems (HSS) and Empowering Communities to deliver sustainable, people-centered healthcare are directly aligned with this project. The project intends to enhance health outcomes and social inclusion for PWE and their families through early diagnosis, better treatment, training for health workers and grassroots anti-stigma initiatives.

According to Dr. Aisa Muya, Director of Programs at Amref Tanzania, “the EECA project is a crucial step in furthering Amref’s mission to strengthen health systems and empower communities. We are fostering long-term community resilience and ownership in addition to enhancing medical access by integrating epilepsy care into Tanzania’s basic healthcare system. In order to provide more accessible and equitable healthcare, this model matches our larger HSS strategy of investing in data, human resources, service delivery and community leadership.

Acting Director of Curative Services, Ministry of Health, Dr. Winifrida Kidima, who presided over the launch, underlined the project’s national importance.

The EECA project will be implemented within Tanzania’s primary healthcare system, guaranteeing institutional ownership, policy alignment and long-term sustainability. Its anti-stigma initiatives, community mobilisation and training of medical professionals, community health workers (CHWs), carers and local influencers will be key components.

The project is expected to lead to stronger government focus on epilepsy and other brain conditions, better community awareness and less stigma and improved ways to prevent, diagnose and treat epilepsy. It also aims to improve how health data is collected and used to support planning and funding, helping to reduce the gap in epilepsy treatment.

Despite impacting millions of people globally, epilepsy frequently goes unrecognised because of stigma and misconceptions, particularly in areas with few resources. In Tanzania, people with epilepsy frequently encounter obstacles in their social lives, careers, education and access to healthcare. The EECA initiative seeks to alter this narrative by putting individuals and communities at the centre of its approach, providing better care along with a revitalised sense of opportunity, inclusion and dignity.

Medical aid needs to change to accommodate the requirements of contemporary South Africans and they are honoured to be at the forefront of this change.

On October 1, a daring new medical assistance program will be introduced. With the strength of Sanlam and Fedhealth’s 89-year history of innovation, it is built to provide exactly what have been requesting: greater affordability, choice and value.

After hearing what South Africa wants from a program, they’re enhancing what already exists, making adjustments where needed and developing a medical assistance experience that genuinely prioritises patients.

Earlier this year, Fedhealth was appointed as Sanlam’s sole open medical scheme provider, combining the experience of a financial giant with a legacy of innovation.

This action bolsters the Sanlam group’s entire financial services value proposition, which aims to deliver a comprehensive health solution to both current and prospective customers. The collaboration furthers Sanlam’s goal of providing a more comprehensive, cost-effective, and sustainable healthcare, insurance and investment offering.

This deal would help Fedhealth achieve its goal of increasing its market share in South Africa’s corporate market, which could result in a significant influx of new corporate members through Sanlam’s existing clientele.

The new Scheme will continue to function as a separate organisation, with a Board of Trustees made up of Scheme members.

A project was started by the Tanzanian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to train communities in first-aid procedures for victims of traffic accidents.

Improving Post-Crash Care in Tanzania, a three-year project worth 485,350 USD, will implement and assess the effects of six WHO emergency care toolkit elements in pre-hospital and hospital settings along Tanzania’s most active highways that connect the country’s north and south.

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Tanzania’s National Road Safety Council and the WHO collaborated on the initiative, which was made possible by funding from the UN Road Safety Fund.

The initiative aims to enhance post-crash care by increasing ambulance services’ capacity and educating layperson first responders, according to Hendry Sawe, head of the MUHAS’ Emergency Medicine Department.

According to Sawe, these trained responders will be prepared to offer emergency care at crash scenes, guaranteeing the victims’ safe transfer to medical facilities with improved emergency care capabilities.

The project is important, according to Galbert Fedjo, WHO’s health systems coordinator, who also noted that many people were killed and disabled in traffic accidents in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in Tanzania.

He claimed that at 16 fatalities per 100,000, Tanzania’s road traffic death rate is still frighteningly high.

With prompt emergency care, many of these fatalities and impairments may have been avoided. But Tanzania’s emergency care system has serious flaws, such as no established emergency medical services, no central dispatch mechanism and a lack of organised coordination,” Fedjo stated.

In order to improve healthcare services in the area and give the local medical infrastructure a much-needed boost, the Kericho County Government has set aside Sh158 million for the development of the Sosiot Level Four Hospital in Belgut Sub-County.

Governor Dr. Eric Mutai emphasised during the groundbreaking ceremony in Sosiot, Kericho County, that the three-story, state-of-the-art facility will significantly improve medical care in the area. He noted that the new hospital will house essential departments like Casualty, Outpatient Services and specialised clinics in Ophthalmology, Dentistry, ENT and Dermatology, greatly improving medical care for resident patients.

In order to improve security and accessibility, Governor Mutai further disclosed that the project will incorporate essential infrastructure improvements like perimeter fencing, cabro paving on the hospital grounds and a contemporary entrance gate.

He underlined that the construction of the hospital is an essential step in addressing the community’s expanding healthcare demands and guaranteeing that residents can receive services at a reasonable cost.

“This new facility complements the ongoing construction of a Mother and Child Unit, which is valued at sh57 million and was developed in collaboration with the Safaricom Foundation to provide critical paediatric and maternal care,” Dr. Mutai stated.

Other important hospital departments, such as a new theatre, radiology unit, laboratory and male and female wards, have made progress, the governor stated, and plans are in place to assign staff to these facilities so they may be fully operational.

“These efforts will provide much-needed healthcare services to the people of Sosiot and surrounding areas while relieving pressure on the Kericho County Referral Hospital,” Dr. Mutai said.

In Waldai Ward, Belgut Sub-County, Dr Mutai simultaneously put into service a Sh200 million water expansion project that includes building a 150,000-cubic-meter water storage tank, a 21-kilometer house-to-house distribution network and extending the Kericho-Kimugu water system with a 10-kilometer main pipeline from Kapsoit to Taplotin.

The Governor also disclosed that the County Government had allocated an additional Sh10 million under the Floods and Climate Change Adaptation (FLOCCA) initiative to improve the last-mile distribution network, guaranteeing that even the most isolated residences have access to water.

The Jamii Salama – Healthier Communities Project (JSP) marks the beginning of a revolutionary chapter in Tabora’s healthcare scene. In order to combat malaria and enhance maternal healthcare in the area, the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation (JMKF) and SC Johnson (SCJ) have partnered to launch this ground-breaking project. The project provides mobile outreach services to the public directly, preventing malaria and providing critical prenatal care where it is most needed, with a particular focus on Sikonge and Uyui districts.

The JSP aims to improve pregnancy outcomes for pregnant women in these underprivileged regions by filling important healthcare gaps. It is anticipated that the initiative will provide essential services that will save lives and strengthen communities, benefiting about 800 expectant mothers and 2,000 elementary school students.

Mobile malaria clinics, furnished with portable diagnostic instruments, ultrasonography equipment and necessary medical supplies, are the project’s central component. These mobile units, which are manned by community health volunteers and qualified healthcare professionals, are intended to reach isolated, rural areas with inadequate access to healthcare. Two new dispensaries will also be built as part of the project in the Sikonge and Uyui district councils with the goal of bolstering the area’s healthcare system and providing long-term assistance.

Earlie this month, the JSP was formally introduced in the State House in Chamwino, Dodoma. Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of the United Republic of Tanzania and a fervent supporter of healthcare reform, graced the occasion. Her attendance demonstrated the project’s importance to the nation’s overall health policy.

The settlor and chairman of JMKF, former president Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, was also present and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing maternal health through programs like JSP Dr. Fisk Johnson III, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson & Sons and a fervent supporter of the eradication of malaria, who also highlighted the contribution of his company to the project’s success.

Attendees included important government representatives such as Dr. Godwin Mollel, the Deputy Minister for Health and Hon. Mohamed Mchengerwa, Minister of State in the President’s Office (PORALG). Particularly emphasised as one of the initiative’s main beneficiaries was the Tabora region, represented by Hon. Paul Matiko Chacha, Tabora’s Regional Commissioner.

The project’s long-term viability depends on its emphasis on developing the area’s healthcare infrastructure. An estimated 36,000 individuals will be served by the two new dispensaries that will be built in high-burden malaria areas. These dispensaries will offer a range of healthcare services, including as incinerators for medical waste, reproductive and pediatric health clinics, and outpatient care. In order to provide healthcare services around-the-clock, the dispensaries will also house medical personnel.
By giving communities in Tabora access to necessary healthcare services and laying the groundwork for a healthy future, the Jamii Salama Project seeks to enhance their quality of life.

World Vision Kenya has invested KSh 45 million to build a state-of-the-art Level 3 hospital that would serve over 8,000 residents of Ngaakaa-Twaandu in Makindu Ward.

On Tuesday, the World Vision Kenya team and Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili oversaw the project’s groundbreaking ceremony for phase one.

Supported by the Mountain Blue Foundation, the facility will have a maternity wing, a mother and child block, a fully furnished laboratory, an administration block, treatment rooms, a pharmacy and a records office.

The project also include implementing the Kiboko-Twaandu water project to provide access to clean water, purchasing necessary medical equipment and installing solar energy to power the hospital.

In addition to providing healthcare, World Vision Kenya is working with the county government to implement the Kwa-Kamaso water project in Kitise, which will assist 10,000 households.

The organisation will provide solar lamps to more than 4,000 registered school children in the region, equip lead farmers with training on Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), and give 250-liter water tanks to local households in an effort to further enhance livelihoods.

China has sent Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) medical equipment valued at 125 million won, including specialized instruments for observing blood vessels and nerves during operations.

During a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian formally gave the equipment to Health Minister Jenista Mhagama at MNH on behalf of the Chinese government.

Speaking following the receipt, Mhagama stated that it was a component of the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Tanzania-China collaboration in the field of health. She emphasized that the equipment would assist MNH in enhancing health services and tackling obstacles in providing citizens with high-quality care.

“This partnership between our two nations will continue to bring benefits, including advanced medical equipment, modern technology and specialised experts to enhance healthcare services.

“I applaud the MNH leadership for their commitment to this partnership. This donation will significantly improve healthcare delivery and positively impact citizens,” Mhagama said.

For their contributions to the long-lasting collaboration between the two countries, Ambassador Chen thanked the Ministry of Health, MNH and the Chinese medical team in Tanzania.

Prof. Mohamed Janabi, the executive director of MNH, had earlier hailed China for the assistance and urged greater cooperation in the adoption of cutting-edge technology and the development of human resources.

“This partnership offers our doctors opportunities for specialised training in China, enhancing their skills and introducing modern techniques, including artificial intelligence, which are essential for healthcare,” Prof. Janabi stated.

He emphasized that one piece of donated equipment is a magnification microscope that is worn like glasses and allows surgeons to precisely observe and operate on tiny blood arteries and nerves.

Tanzania, Muhimbili, Hospital, Medical Equipment, China, MNH, Blood Vessels, Nerves, Dar es Salaam, Ambassador, Chen Mingjian, Jenista Mhagama, MNH, Mhagama, Mohamed Janabi.

In order to improve AMPATH’s patient-centered primary care, Moi University and AMPATH Kenya have secured a new 4-year funding that will teach local leadership in six counties in western Kenya in the use of portable point-of-care ultrasounds (POCUS). Panorama Global is providing support for the initiative, which is funded by Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company and MSD through its MSD for Mothers program.

POCUS is a tool used by clinicians and healthcare professionals to capture rapid, in-the-moment images within the body, frequently at the patient’s bedside. It assists the medical professional in responding to particular queries, such whether the heart is beating appropriately or whether the baby is positioned correctly in the womb. In addition to the physical examination, this technology provides medical professionals with more instant information to help them make treatment decisions.

24 healthcare professionals were trained at Webuye County Hospital in Bungoma County, the first of six POCUS Innovation Centres, as part of the project’s January 13, 2025 launch. Ten sub-county trainings for 670 healthcare workers in Bungoma County will follow this one. A total of 190 probes will be dispersed among nearby rural medical clinics.

One of the principal investigators (PIs) for the $6.5 million USD grant, Dr. Hussein Elias, a lecturer in the Moi University Department of Family Medicine, Medical Education and Community Health, stated that POCUS empowers medical professionals to see and identify conditions like heart failure, breast cancer and certain obstetrical complications earlier and increases the likelihood of better treatment and survival.

In low and middle-income nations like Kenya, diagnostic imaging is not easily accessible in settings with limited resources, especially in rural areas like western Kenya. To make diagnoses, medical professionals must instead rely on their knowledge of physical examination techniques and the patient’s medical history. In cases where early discovery might significantly improve outcomes, such as breast cancer, heart failure and more complex problems during pregnancy, this is not always enough. With a portable, handheld device, POCUS enables healthcare professionals to rapidly assess conditions in places with limited access to cutting-edge medical facilities. This can result in quicker treatment, less travel time for patients to hospitals, and even save lives by identifying serious problems early.

“These healthcare professionals can detect life-threatening conditions earlier, increasing the chances for earlier treatment and survival, by using POCUS to assess cardiac function, identify specific pregnancy complications, or a suspicious mass in the breast,” added Daria Szkwarko, DO, MPH, Co-PI on the grant and associate professor in Family Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Building on the Kenyan Ministry of Health’s primary care network model, the project will establish ‘POCUS innovation centres’ at primary care network hubs to train and mentor 4000 healthcare workers in the use of POCUS in collaboration with the Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI), a global leader in POCUS education.

This project, which will be implemented quickly in the first year in Bungoma County, will focus on obstetrical complications in pregnant women as well as identifying heart failure in patients with diabetes and/or hypertension who are symptomatic and identifying potentially malignant breast masses in patients who present with breast lumps.

“We expect that over half a million patients will have point-of-care ultrasounds in facilities with limited on-site access to diagnostic imaging over the course of four years,” Dr. Elias continued.

In Kenya and other resource-constrained environments in low- and middle-income nations across the world, the outcomes of the grant activities will guide the national POCUS rollout. According to Dr. Szkwarko, “the project includes a research component to evaluate the integrated hub approach for POCUS implementation by assessing its impact on the training and supervision of healthcare workers, delivery of patient care, and health outcomes, in addition to improving patient care and treatment plans.”

Through smart public-private partnerships, the Tanzanian government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, plans to speed up efforts for improving emergency healthcare services.

Through this program, citizens’ needs will be promptly met and emergency services will be made available with high quality.

Speaking on behalf of Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila, Dar es Salaam Regional Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mohamed Manguna pointed out the government’s commitment to strengthening emergency healthcare systems during the formal closing of the first phase of the Improving Emergency Care in Tanzania (IMECT) project.

According to him, the 1.8 billion dollar IMECT project is a prime example of a cooperation that has brought together the Tanzanian government, foreign partners and local people to improve emergency medical services throughout the nation.

Dr. Manguna acknowledged Aga Khan Health Services Tanzania (AKHST) and the Polish government for their crucial contributions to the project’s execution.

Through the Polish International Assistance Centre (PCPM), Poland has provided US dollars 760, 000 (1.8 billion) to Tanzania’s emergency healthcare infrastructure during the last two and a half years.

He praised the partnership as an important step in filling in the deficiencies in the nation’s healthcare system, such as a lack of facilities, qualified staff and resources.

Dr. Manguna acknowledged the improvements but pointed out that there are still obstacles to overcome before all medical institutions have the infrastructure, employees and resources needed to deliver quality emergency care.

He commended Aga Khan Health Services for their contribution in advancing the public-private partnership model and for their leadership in backing government initiatives to fortify healthcare systems.

A digital revolution has transformed health-care service delivery in Nakuru County, bringing in a new era of efficiency and openness.

Ms Roselyn Mungai, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Health Services, highlighted that the divided unit’s administration has implemented cutting-edge digital technologies in all health-care operations in order to leverage technology for better governance.

“From electronic health records to automated appointment scheduling, the county administration is successfully implementing digitised health systems that simplify patient care, record keeping on patients and availability of drug stocks and overall health care management,” highlighted by the county’s CECM.

Ms Mungai, who received computers, accessories and cabling from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Tujenge Jamii programme to support the ongoing digitisation of health service delivery in Nakuru, stated that paperless technology has not only increased medical practitioners efficiency but has also significantly improved patient experience.

“This contribution will enhance Governor Susan Kihika’s administration and commitment to enhance efficiency, improve data management and streamline service delivery across beneficiary health care facilities,” the CECM stated.

The CECM stated that real-time data access enables health professionals to make informed decisions quickly, resulting in more efficient health care delivery in all public hospitals.

She also stated that Nakuru County has started moving to an electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) to support community health promoters’ (CHPs) activities.

She claimed that over 2,000 CHPs will use the devices to help with household registration, patient screening, treatment and referrals, as well as to advocate for primary health practices.

The Electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS) is a national project started by the Ministry of Health a year ago. It consists of a SmartHealth Mobile Phone application developed on Medic’s Community Health Toolkit platform.

The USAID Country Health Information Systems and Data Use (CHISU) program contributes to Kenya’s digital health transformation by enhancing and strengthening the technology, software and information systems used by the Ministry of Health and all health-care workers to provide more affordable, high-quality services.

This includes teaching healthcare personnel how to gather, analyse, and apply data using standardised, unified systems, allowing them to make data-driven decisions about enhancing patient care.

Ms Mungai realised that the analogue system was costly for the county government, making data susceptible and data might easily be destroyed. According to the official, the digitised method makes data submission simple, traceable and reliable.

With technology, patients at the grassroots level can connect virtually with healthcare providers, avoiding the costs and inconveniences associated with travel while also ensuring that accurate records are retained.

In order to improve speed of response, the county government uses the data gathered by the “Medical Social Work Service Register” system to create policies and take action, such as sending out alerts about illness outbreaks.

The CECM claims that the e-register helps doctors and healthcare administrators to conveniently handle medication, medical billing and appointment scheduling. It also supports the Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) register at the national and county levels. It also provides improved rules for insurance and healthcare programs.

Additionally, the Medical Social Work Service Register is an online database that provides sub-county-level statistics on disease burden by region and type. Similarly, there are medical magazine publications that are specialised and contain a wealth of information about different disease loads.

Technology is important for Kenya’s efforts to get universal health care, according to Ms. Mungai.

She stated that “one of the major milestones that will push Kenya and Africa firmly into the future will be technology.”

Residents were assured by Ms. Mungai that the digital health system was created to ensure the privacy and security of their data.

“The primary priority is privacy and we always make sure to follow the regulations set forth by the government, specifically the Data Protection Act. The patient is the main focus and grants permission to anybody who has access to their digital files.” The CECM stated.