Samia donates 97m/- to Prof J ‘kidney foundation’

DAR ES SALAAM: President Samia Suluhu Hassan has donated 50m/- to the legendary Tanzania rapper and ex Member of Parliament Joseph Haule’s foundation alias Professor J that aims at helping patients suffering from kidney problems.

This was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel earlier on Monday during the inaugural ceremony of the foundation adding that the President has also pledged to cover all the transplant expenses which is worth 47m/- once Professor J undergoes the process.

The former Mikumi Constituency MP on the Opposition Chadema ticket, was hospitalized earlier this year where he has been battling with kidney problems that caused his disappearance from the public.

Meanwhile, the Head of State instructed the Health Ministry to collaborate with the Muhimbili National Hospital Executive Director, Prof Mohammed Janabi to prepare a good plan for Professor J’s treatments.

Speaking afterwards, Professor J said he was prompted to open the foundation specifically for kidney patients due to his severe condition of suffering from the disease for about two consecutive years and seeing how expensive the treatments are.

Elaborating, he said that his target is to begin with 50 patients even though ever since the foundation was launched a lot of kidney patients have already started sending him messages asking for help.

The legendary Bongo Flava spent 127 days in ICU before recovering from his sickness earlier this year where President Samia funded his treatment both in and outside the country.

The Hip Hop star started music in 1989 as a member of Hard Blast- ers group, which shot to fame after releasing their hit track “Chemsha Bongo” from their first album, “Funga Kazi”.

Only one year later, they won the best hip-hop group award in Tanzania. During his solo career, which started in 2001, he has released a number of hits, in- cluding “Nikusaidiaje” and “Zali la Mentali, feat. Juma Nature.