Envoys promote advanced medical tourism
DODOMA: DIPLOMATS have called for stronger international promotion of Tanzania’s advanced healthcare services, saying the country has the capacity to become a leading medical tourism destination in Africa.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Burundi, Gelasius Byakanwa made the call on Friday during a visit to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) in Dodoma, where he met Burundian children who successfully underwent lifesaving surgery to correct congenital heart defects.
Ambassador Byakanwa said the government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has invested heavily in modern health infrastructure, advanced medical equipment and specialist training, enabling Tanzania to provide healthcare services that meet international standards.
He said he initially referred the children to BMH with uncertainty because the hospital had not previously treated similar cases involving foreign patients.
“I was anxious because I had convinced the parents that their children could be treated successfully in Tanzania. But Benjamin Mkapa Hospital has exceeded my expectations many times over,” he said.
The envoy said the successful treatment had convinced him that Tanzania has the expertise to serve patients from across Africa.
He pledged to promote BMH and urged the hospital to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organise familiarisation visits for African ambassadors accredited to Tanzania so they could witness the services first-hand.
He also commended Tanzania’s successful bid to become a regional Centre of Excellence for bone marrow transplantation and encouraged BMH to invest in facilities that support medical tourism.
Burundi’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Leontine Nzeyimana, praised the hospital’s infrastructure and specialist services, saying many Africans remain unaware that such advanced healthcare is available within the continent.
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“This is my first visit to Benjamin Mkapa Hospital and I did not expect to find facilities of this standard. Africa needs to know that such services are available here, close to home,” she said.
She also commended BMH’s outreach medical camp in Burundi, saying it had restored hope to many families and strengthened healthcare cooperation between the two countries.
BMH Executive Director, Prof Abel Makubi thanked Ambassador Byakanwa for connecting Burundian patients with specialist treatment in Tanzania.
He credited President Samia’s continued investment in healthcare infrastructure, modern equipment and specialist training for enabling the hospital to provide highly specialised services.
Prof Makubi said BMH would continue expanding specialised services and strengthening partnerships to position Tanzania as a regional hub for advanced healthcare and medical tourism.
