JKCI eyes to raise 25bn/- for treatment of children with heart complications

MWANZA: JAKAYA Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) plans to host a fundraising gala dinner with the goal of raising over 25bn/- to support the treatment of children with heart complications in the country.

The gala is scheduled to take place this November in Mwanza Region, as part of JKCI’s efforts to reach children requiring cardiac treatment, particularly those from the Lake Zone regions.

Speaking on October 5, 2026, after meeting with the Mwanza Regional Commissioner, CP Salum Hamduni, JKCI Executive Director Dr Peter Kisenge stated that the cost of heart surgery for a single child can range from 8 million to 25m/- ,an amount many families cannot afford.

Dr Kisenge noted that out of the approximately two million children born in the country annually, an estimated 16,000 suffer from various heart conditions, with more than 4,000 requiring urgent surgery.

He said that approximately two-thirds of the children requiring urgent surgery come from the Lake Zone regions, prompting the institute to focus its efforts more heavily on that area.

Dr Kisenge also stated that JKCI plans to establish a pediatric cardiac care center at Sekou Toure Regional Referral Hospital in Mwanza, enabling children in the Lake Zone to access these services closer to home.

ALSO READ: JKCI invites Tanzanian athletes to undergo free health screenings and free treatment

Furthermore, He urged the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle—avoiding alcohol, limiting the consumption of highly processed foods, eating nutritious meals, and exercising—measures he noted would help build a healthy society across all age groups, from children to the elderly.

JKCI’s Director of Clinical Services and Pediatric Cardiologist, Dr Naizihijwa Majani, stated that the center’s data shows one in four children arriving at JKCI for cardiac care comes from the Lake Zone.

According to Dr. Majani, JKCI’s visit to Mwanza also aims to discuss with local health professionals how to strengthen collaboration in providing care for children with heart conditions.

For his part, Mwanza Regional Commissioner CP Salum Hamduni commended JKCI for the initiative, noting that it would help children with heart conditions access treatment through stakeholder sponsorship, given the high cost of such medical care.