GGML, JKCI partnership targets 300 children with heart problems
GEITA: GEITA Gold Mining Limited (GGML) has allocated approximately 1.2 billion over a three-year period to support the treatment of 300 children with heart problems in the country.
This initiative is part of efforts to increase access to specialized medical services for children whose families might struggle to afford the cost of treatment.
Under an agreement signed yesterday at GGML’s headquarters in Geita Region between the company and the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), GGML will provide approximately 400 million annually to support the treatment of 100 children with heart problems, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to around 300 over the three-year span.
This partnership was facilitated by Global Medicare, a Dar es Salaam-based organization that connects stakeholders and mobilizes resources to support the treatment of children with heart diseases in the country.
The agreement reinforces efforts by the Government and private sector stakeholders to expand access to cardiac care for children, particularly those requiring specialized services such as surgery and specific treatments to correct heart defects.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, GGML Managing Director Ashraf Suryaningrat stated that the company’s decision to support the initiative followed a rigorous assessment process—a standard procedure for all projects the company is asked to support.
He stated that after the company’s leadership received details about the program—including the history of their existing partnership and the results achieved in supporting children and strengthening cardiac services—the company recognized the importance of investing in the initiative.
“We look forward to a three-year partnership. It involves 100 children annually and approximately Sh400 million per year. We anticipate a successful collaboration and hope it will continue well into the future,” said Suryaningrat.
He noted that this achievement was not the work of a single individual but the result of teamwork by various groups involved in presenting, evaluating, and executing the initiative, and he expressed his gratitude to JKCI, Global Medicare, and the GGML officials who participated in the process.
For his part, the Executive Director of JKCI and Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Peter Richard Kisenge, stated that the support is highly significant because it will directly impact the lives of children requiring urgent cardiac care.
He noted that pediatric heart disease remains a challenge requiring broad collaboration, as some children require surgery, others need specialized procedures to close heart defects, and others require medication and ongoing medical monitoring.
Dr Kisenge emphasized that GGML’s contribution should not be viewed merely as financial aid, but as an investment in saving lives and restoring hope to the children and their families.
