TPDF to host EAC Civil-Military Cooperation Week
DODOMA: THOUSANDS of Tanzanians are set to benefit from free specialist medical services as the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) hosts the sixth East African Community (EAC) Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Week from August 26 to September 1 this year.
The week-long event will bring together military medical specialists from EAC member states to provide services in several regions, alongside social support and rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
Speaking in Dodoma on Wednesday, Director of Medical Services Administration, TPDF, Brigadier General Dr Agatha Katua said specialists from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania would work together to provide medical services in Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Arusha and Zanzibar, depending on the needs of respective health facilities.
She said the initiative would strengthen existing services, particularly maternal and child health, paediatric and other specialist services.
“Patients requiring services that cannot be provided during the exercise will be referred to other hospitals through the normal procedures,” Dr Katua said.
In Dar es Salaam, she said services would be provided at Ubungo District Hospital, Vijibweni Hospital in Kigamboni and Yombo Vituka Health Centre.
In Pwani, services will be available at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital and Bagamoyo District Hospital, while in Zanzibar, beneficiaries will receive services at Mwera Pongwe District Hospital in Unguja and Vitongoji District Hospital in Pemba.
Dr Katua said the programme would also extend beyond healthcare, with support expected for children’s homes, including the National Children’s Home in Kurasini, Mwandai Orphanage Centre, Chanika Children’s Shelter and SOS Children’s Village in Zanzibar.
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“Rehabilitation works will also be undertaken at the National Children’s Home in Kurasini, Mapinduzi Health Centre in Chamwino, Dodoma and Kibokoni Health Centre in Pemba,” she added.
She said assistance would further be extended to Segerea Prison in Dar es Salaam and Kisongo Prison in Arusha.
The annual event is held on a rotational basis among EAC member states, bringing together military and civilian components from partner states to undertake joint humanitarian and socio-economic activities. Tanzania last hosted the event in 2022, while Somalia is expected to host the next edition.
