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.

Kenya and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Afya House, marking a significant step towards increasing vaccine production capacities. The cooperation intends to support the country’s attempts to achieve vaccine self-sufficiency while also addressing broader public health issues in Africa.

During the ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for Health Dr. Deborah M. Barasa emphasised the importance of this collaboration in realising Africa CDC’s objective of producing 60% of the continent’s vaccines locally by 2040. “This MoU symbolises our shared commitment to building a robust vaccine ecosystem that ensures equitable access for all while enhancing health security in Kenya and beyond,” says Dr Barasa.

Kenya has been chosen to host the IVI Country Office and the Advancing Vaccine End-to-End Capabilities (AVEC) Project Office, a significant step forward in the country’s leadership in health innovation and vaccine production throughout the continent.

IVI Director General Dr. Jerome Kim praised Kenya’s proactive approach, stating that “this partnership represents a bold step forward in advancing global health security through innovative and sustainable vaccine solutions.”

The partnership also builds on Kenya’s vaccine research accomplishments, with institutions such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Kenya BioVax Institute playing significant roles in clinical trials, disease surveillance and workforce development.

The meeting was attended by the Ministry of Health’s Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Mr. Harry Kimtai; Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth; Kenya BioVax CEO, Dr. Michael Lusiola and KEMRI Ag DG, Prof. Elijah Songok. This alliance is projected to strengthen Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) strategy by improving vaccination access, encouraging innovation and ensuring resilience in the face of future health emergencies.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. received medical equipment worth K.sh 40 million from ENI Kenya, the country’s biggest biofuels value chain investor.

Enrico Tavolini, ENI Kenya’s Managing Director, handed over the equipment, which includes a centrifuge and a fridge to support blood unit preservation at the Referral Hospital, neonatal equipment for the Mother and Child Hospital in Wote and nutritional supplements for pregnant women and babies.

Furthermore, ENI has outfitted the maternity wing at Kambi-Mawe Dispensary and is building an ablution block and a bio digester to improve sanitary services at the institution.

During the transfer ceremony, Governor Mutula praised the initiative, stating that it will significantly improve healthcare services at the two facilities.

The agreement is expected to improve healthcare delivery and fit with Governor Mutula’s goal of offering high-quality, easily accessible medical services.

The Kenyan government has announced a significant milestone in healthcare access with the enrollment of nearly 9,000 healthcare facilities under the new Social Health Assurance (SHA) initiative. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed the extensive inclusion of 4,760 public and government facilities, 2,498 private institutions, 1,442 faith-based organizations, 17 community facilities, and 86 other healthcare providers across the country. This move reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility as Kenya transitions from the former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) model.

Mwaura described the SHA initiative as an inclusive approach aimed at establishing an equitable and resilient healthcare system accessible to all Kenyans. “This extensive enrolment signifies the collective commitment of Kenyan citizens toward an equitable, accessible and resilient healthcare system,” he stated. This initiative is part of the government’s broader objective to ensure universal health coverage and ease the financial burden of medical expenses for Kenyans.

In addition to expanding general healthcare access, the government has also contracted 55 cancer care providers and 184 renal care providers to enhance specialized treatment options for cancer and dialysis patients. These services will be available across various regions, aiming to improve the quality of life for those affected by these chronic conditions. This development is a critical step in addressing the growing demand for specialized healthcare, particularly for diseases like cancer and kidney disease, which are on the rise in Kenya.

Health Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai also confirmed that the government has already disbursed KSh4.5 billion for the SHA fund, with an additional similar amount expected to be released soon. The funds are intended to support the operational costs of enrolled facilities and ensure patients receive quality care without financial barriers.

However, amid these positive developments, concerns have arisen about some facilities requesting upfront payments from patients. Kimtai cautioned facilities enrolled under SHA to refrain from such practices, emphasizing that patients under SHA should receive care without initial financial demands. This directive is part of the government’s commitment to a smooth and patient-friendly experience under SHA, helping reduce instances where financial constraints prevent access to timely healthcare.

Through these initiatives, the Kenyan government aims to establish a robust, inclusive healthcare system, enhancing accessibility and ensuring that essential healthcare services are within reach for all citizens.

In October, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Mr. Harry Kimtai, hosted a delegation from the Gyeonggi Provincial Government of South Korea, led by Baringo Governor H.E. Benjamin Cheboi. The meeting marked a significant step in advancing Kenya’s healthcare objectives through international partnerships, with a particular focus on strengthening Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Discussions during the meeting centered on Kenya’s potential adoption of South Korea’s Electronic Health Records (EHR) System. This technology aims to streamline patient data management and improve service delivery across Kenya’s healthcare facilities, particularly benefiting remote regions. The system’s adoption would support Kenya’s efforts to achieve UHC by enhancing efficiency, reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving the quality of care available to patients.

The collaboration also extends to the exchange of medical expertise, as both countries plan to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals. This includes onsite training and research exchanges focused on tackling prevalent health issues such as infectious diseases and non-communicable conditions like cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. By enhancing professional knowledge through shared research and training, both Kenya and South Korea aim to improve preventive healthcare and clinical outcomes.

Additionally, the partnership involves organizing medical volunteer initiatives and supplying essential medical resources to underserved areas in Baringo County. These efforts aim to bolster healthcare access in rural regions, where resource shortages often limit the availability of quality healthcare.

This collaboration highlights Kenya’s commitment to improving healthcare through international partnerships, with Principal Secretary Kimtai expressing optimism about the long-term benefits for Kenya’s healthcare sector. Governor Cheboi also emphasized that these partnerships are essential for building resilient healthcare systems that meet the needs of all citizens.

On its second stop of Mission Harmony 2024, the Chinese naval medical ship Peace Ark arrived at the port of Das es Salaam, Tanzania. It offered free medical care to locals on its seven-day charitable visit.

When the medical vessel Peace Ark pulled at the port of Dar es Salaam, the Tanzanian side welcomed it with a lavish, customary ceremony. Tanzanian military and political figures, including Major General Amri Mwami, the TPDF’s Chief of Medical Services, Chen Mingjian, China’s ambassador to Tanzania, locals, Chinese expatriates, and representatives of Chinese-funded organizations, attended the ceremony.

Tanzania is being visited by the Peace Ark for the third time. On its primary platform, the Peace Ark will provide diagnostic and treatment services during this visit. In the meanwhile, over ten medical teams will be sent on medical visits to nearby hospitals, towns, and educational institutions. Medical personnel from both sides will collaborate on health services, academic exchanges, and diagnosis and treatment. The commander of Mission Harmony-2024 will also tour Tanzanian naval stations and medical facilities in addition to meeting with political and military representatives of Tanzania.

In 2010 and 2017, the Chinese medical vessel Peace Ark made two prior trips to Tanzania, when it rendered medical assistance. The 60th anniversary of Tanzania and China’s diplomatic ties’ founding falls this year. The ship visit will strengthen the two countries’ long-standing relationship and expand their bilateral communication and collaboration.

This summer, Rice University President Reginald DesRoches traveled to Africa with co-director Maria Oden of the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies and supporters of Rice360 to commemorate important turning points in the effort to eradicate avoidable neonatal deaths in the sub-Saharan area. This tour represented Rice’s ongoing participation in the Newborn Essential Solutions and Technologies (NEST360) international partnership, of which it is one of 22 organizations.

The crew first visited Malawi, where hospitals in all 28 districts had adopted the NEST360 bundle. From there, they proceeded to Tanzania. Mwananyamala Hospital, one of seven primary care, Level 2 hospitals designated as a NEST360-implementing site during Phase 1 of the program in Tanzania, was the first stop on the itinerary.

Next, the party drove to Ubungo Hospital, a prospective NEST360-implementing site, where DesRoches, Tanzanian Ministry of Health personnel and key local and international partners participated in a ceremonial gathering marking the opening of Phase 2.

DesRoches remarked, “It is truly my distinct honor to be here today to celebrate the launch of NEST360 Phase 2 and the commitment to increased newborn survival in sub-Saharan Africa.” NEST360 has shown that it is willing to collaborate with regional governments. “You need to work together and form partnerships in order to solve the most important problems facing the planet. Developing technology in the lab is one thing, but problems won’t be sufficiently resolved if you don’t have collaborations that comprehend societal, cultural, and economic challenges.”

In order to improve quality and learning among the nation’s partners in newborn and maternal health care, NEST360’s Phase 2 goals include delivering and maintaining life-saving innovations, giving health workers practical education, and using data for action. In keeping with its efforts to lower the number of neonatal deaths, the Tanzanian government announced during the Phase 2 launch that it would spend an extra $7.1 million to upgrade the facilities of newborn wards in 25 hospitals spread across four mainland regions and three hospitals in Zanzibar. According to Dr. Felix Bundala, assistant director of newborn, child, and adolescent health at Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, the country “plans to spend over $50 million on infrastructure, equipment, and capacity building for newborn care” over the course of the following three years.

Tanzania has substantially lowered maternal and infant mortality rates in recent years thanks to concentrated efforts to upgrade its healthcare system. Dr. Grace Magembe, deputy secretary general of Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, gave a statement at the launch citing two notable examples of successful government initiatives advancing strategic national interests and global sustainability goals: an 80% decrease in maternal deaths and a 36% decline in mortality for children under five.

The largest public hospital in Tanzania, Muhimbili National Hospital, three regional referral hospitals, including Mwananyamala, and numerous facilities in rural areas implemented a package of evidence-based, locally relevant interventions for small and sick newborn care in Phase 1. This package was developed by NEST360 and the Ministry of Health.

The Muhimbili neonatal care units had less congestion thanks to these extra NEST360-implementing sites. In this hospital, it was usual to discover one baby cot with six or seven babies before NEST360 was implemented; however, as of right now, “one baby cot is for one baby,” according to Magembe.

Present at the ceremony were representatives of major NEST360 partners in Tanzania, including as Rice360, Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Ifakara Health Institute, and MUHAS, in addition to leaders from Rice and Tanzanian government authorities.