KCMC launches fundraising to finish cardiac institute

KILIMANJARO: KILIMANJARO Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) Zonal Referral Hospital in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region has launched a fundraising campaign to complete the construction of its much-anticipated cardiac institute.

The new cardiac unit aims to ease the burden on patients from the Northern Zone regions including Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Tanga, who currently must travel long distances, often to Dar es Salaam or abroad, to access specialised cardiac care. These trips are costly for many.

KCMC Executive Director, Professor Gilliard Masenga said this during the campaign launch on Monday, stressing the urgent need for local cardiac services.

“The incidence of rheumatic and congenital heart diseases is rising. Many patients delay seeking treatment because they cannot afford the travel and medical expenses required to access services at Dar es Salaam’s Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI),” he said.

He added: “Those unable to afford these costs often miss timely medical care, resulting in worsened health outcomes or death.”

Prof Masenga explained that the cardiac institute project is designed to bridge this gap by providing timely, quality cardiac care within the region, reducing the need for long and expensive travel.

The total cost to complete the cardiac institute is estimated at 12.2bn/-.

So far, donors have contributed 10bn/- toward the project, which is currently 40 per cent complete. The fundraising campaign seeks to raise the remaining 2.2bn/-. The campaign is coordinated by the Tanlink Healthcare Foundation, with Prof Masenga also serving as Executive Secretary of the Good Samaritan Foundation (GSF) of Tanzania.

In addition to construction, KCMC has already sent staff abroad for specialised training, including cardiac surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists and allied health personnel, to build local capacity for running the cardiac unit.

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Mr Nurdin Babu praised the initiative during the launch.

“Cardiovascular diseases are a major public health concern in our region. This project will play a critical role in addressing those health challenges. The regional government fully supports this important effort,” he said.

Director of Tanlink Healthcare Foundation, Dr Siraj Mtulia cited a 2007 Open-Heart International study that estimated Tanzania needs over 40 cardiac centres similar to JKCI to meet demand.

“These needs are enormous. That’s why we are partnering with KCMC to ensure funds are raised to complete this vital cardiac unit,” Dr Mtulia said.

He called on institutions, organisations, health stakeholders and individuals to contribute generously to the fundraising campaign to help complete the construction.