NMB foots 1bn/- for needy children care at JKCI
DAR ES SALAAM: NMB Bank has signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) valued at 1bn/- with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) to provide free cardiac treatment services for underprivileged children.
This partnership, effective this year, will enable the bank to allocate 250m/- annually as financial assistance for child patients suffering from heart diseases undergoing treatment at JKCI.
During the signing ceremony held in Dar es Salaam, NMB Bank Chief Executive Officer, Ms Ruth Zaipuna described the MoU as a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare access for children with heart complications.
“The costs for cardiac treatment are so high. We understand that the government has been footing 70 per cent of the bills. As a bank, we feel privileged to compliment government’s efforts by filling the missing 30 per cent financial gap (about 4m/-) per child,” Ms Zaipuna said.
This initiative aligns with NMB’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy and aims to provide essential support to parents of children born with heart complications.
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Recent statistics indicate that around 13,800 children are born with such conditions in Tanzania each year, putting their lives at risk due to the prohibitive costs of cardiac treatment.
In addition to financial support, NMB will empower cardiac specialists at JKCI to conduct awareness programmes targeting the bank’s employees and customers.
Ms Zaipuna commended JKCI and the Heart Team Africa Foundation for their unwavering commitment to enhancing cardiac care and urged other corporate entities to join in supporting this noble cause.
The JKCI Executive Director Dr Peter Kisenge praised NMB for its ongoing contributions, noting that the new MoU marks another important chapter in their partnership.
He also expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for its supportive role in healthcare improvements, which have helped position JKCI as a leading institution in the East and Central African region.
Dr Kisenge highlighted that this new agreement would enhance service delivery and extends outreach to communities at the grassroots level.
This year alone, JKCI’s outreach programme has already reached 17 regions, benefiting 17,000 heart patients.
Furthermore, JKCI board member Mr Abdulmarik Mollel pointed out that over 1,500 children have been diagnosed with heart complications, underscoring the need for continued support.
He mentioned that a fundraising gala is planned for Saturday this week to further bolster these efforts.
Notably, the landscape of cardiac treatment has shifted dramatically, with 95 per cent of heart patients now receiving care locally rather than traveling abroad for treatment.
This collaboration illustrates the commitment of both NMB Bank and JKCI to improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations, aiming to save lives and enhance the quality of care for children in need.
