JKCI heart treatment saves 172bn/-, a million lives in ten years

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), since its establishment in 2015, has saved over one million lives and saved 172bn/- that could have been used to send heart patients abroad.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark 10 years of providing heart treatment services that coincided with the launch of the institution’s history book in Dar es Salaam, JKCI Director, Dr Peter Kisenge, said they expect to save more lives in the coming years, especially at this time when they are focused on using the brain.

Dr Kisenge said that in 10 years they have made great progress, however, they are still continuing to expand heart services in the country by building a 100-bed pediatric heart children’s hospital in the Mloganzila area in Dar es Salaam.

“Currently, JKCI is not only a Tanzanian hospital but also an African hospital as patients from African and non-African countries such as India, Turkey, China, France, Germany, are treated here, thus making JKCI liberate Africa in terms of Heart issues”, said Dr. Kisenge

He also said that among the great achievements they have achieved is performing open heart surgery using the latest technology in the world.

“JKCI has been able to conduct various studies that have helped in bringing about the success of the institution. We have also employed staff who were working at Dar Group Hospital, which is now a branch of JKCI”, said Dr Kisenge.

Dr Kisenge said JKCI has provided mobile medical services by reaching 16 regions of Tanzania and conducting heart disease screenings for citizens, many of whom would not be able to access services where they are.

“We want JKCI to be the India of Africa by being a leading center for heart treatment. In the past, many patients were sent to South Africa but now they are brought here, this is a great achievement for us,” he explained.

He said JKCI has already entered into agreements with various African countries in cardiac treatment and training, such as Zambia, Burkina Faso, Comoros and foreign patients continue to come for treatment.

Representative of the event’s Chief Guest, the Ubungo District Commissioner, Albert Msando, speaking on behalf of the Tanzanian Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, said the nation has witnessed a decrease in the use of funds to send patients abroad for 10 years since 2015 when the government established the Institute to provide specialist cardiac services.

“The sixth phase government, through President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has been able to invest in modern medical equipment to simplify and provide treatment in line with technology,” said Msando

Msando has called on health professionals to conduct research that will use simple language and reach ordinary people and various stakeholders in the country.

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The 10th anniversary of JKCI has been accompanied by various activities including testing for heart disease for students in the Coast Region, testing for police officers and citizens.

It has also organized health debates that brought together health professionals and secondary education students to discuss medical tourism and how heart treatment is going to bring medical tourism to the country.

Also, health professionals from various hospitals in the country were able to participate in scientific debates and exchange knowledge.