First ever heart institute opens in Dar

Minister of Health and Social welfare, Dr Seif Rashid.

MORE heart patients will now be treated in the country compliments to the official inauguration of the state-of-the-art Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, saving lives and reducing costs in the process.

Addressing the Muhimbili community on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete in Dar es Salaam, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Rashid advised the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to start accommodating heart complications in their medication support schemes.

"The official opening of the institute means a lot to this nation since the facility is one of a kind in East and Central Africa.

The immense support by China in collaboration with the government, made this possible. On average, the country spent over 2.5bln/- annually in support of heart treatment abroad, but much will be handled at the centre now," Dr Rashid said.

He said the launching of the institute is yet another milestone in the historic friendship between China and Tanzania in the health sector, as heart patients who previously had to undergo costly treatment abroad will now be taken care of by highly trained medical surgeons in the country.

"The visit to China by President Kikwete who held discussions with President Hu Jintao made this possible. China extended financial support amounting to 16.6bn/- to enhance construction of the facility together with installation of the necessary equipment," he said.

Explaining the work so far accomplished at JKCI, Dr Rashid said a total of 14,000 heart patients at different levels have undergone treatment, whereas 912 were admitted and 148 undergoing successful open heart surgery.

"This is a modern facility and the government allocated 10bn/- to make sure that heart patients receive treatment locally. Heart diseases cause death to many people globally followed by communicable diseases.

The centre has been named after him in recognition of his contribution," he observed. Commenting on the sustainability of the institute, the minister expressed delight for the skills shared by experts from Israeli, Saudi Arabia, Italy and India in conjunction with ongoing training of local experts to carry on the work.

MNH Board Chairperson, Prof Joseph Kuzilwa, expressed delight for the installation of the cardiac institute which will not only receive patients from across the region but also beyond regional borders.

"The president's dream has come true. In April, last year, he visited the hospital's heart department and wished that it would become an autonomous centre.

Today we have all witnessed inauguration of this important institute which will prove a great relief to the needy," Prof Kuzilwa said.

He said the objective was to make it a centre of excellence on medical research, heart complications in particular, in collaboration with the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

The ministry's Permanent Secretary (PS), Dr Donan Mbando was equally elated saying that between January and July 2015 at least 45 people had undergone open heart surgery and have fully recovered, while 200 others had their health status (pulmonary veins) investigated by using the high-tech equipment at the institute.

"The African Union (AU) has requested the administration of the centre to pay special attention to children from East and Central Africa suffering from heart complications, in addition to other logistical arrangements," Dr Mbando said.

Ms Rehema Magilinanga (29), said her two-year daughter was diagnosed with heart problems in May, this year. She had been able to undergo successful open heart surgery at the institute and thanked all those who in a way saved her life.