TANZANIA TO BENEFIT FROM WORLD-CLASS HOSPITAL PROJECT

Tanzania is poised to become one of five African countries to benefit from the construction of a major hospital project that will meet global standards for medical services. This initiative, designated the African Medical Center of Excellence (AMCE), is being implemented by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with King’s University Hospital, situated in London, England.

This was stated by the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Medical Excellence, Abuja, Mr. Brian Deaver, when the Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, PhD (Mb), led the Tanzanian delegation on a visit to the construction site of the aforementioned project, located outside the city of Abuja in Nigeria.

Mr. Deaver elucidated that the hospital, which will have the capacity to admit 500 patients simultaneously, will utilise cutting-edge technology that has never been employed in the African continent for the treatment of blood cancer and sickle cell diseases.

He elucidated that the hospital, in conjunction with other facilities to be constructed in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania, will offer a comprehensive range of services, including diagnosis, treatment, nuclear therapy, surgery, post-surgical care, and other specialised services such as oncology, haematology, and cardiology.

“Upon implementation of this project, our objective is to enhance the quality of health services, provide training for health experts, conduct research, create employment opportunities, regulate the demand for foreign currency, particularly dollars, and promote medical tourism to African countries,” Mr. Speaking after visiting the project, which is expected to cost more than 260 million US dollars, the Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Natu Elmaanry Mwamba, stated that the model project will not only enhance medical services for citizens, but will also facilitate medical tourism, enabling people to visit Tanzania and access these services from outside the country.

Conversely, the Acting Ambassador of Tanzania in Nigeria, Mrs. Judica Nagunwa, asserted that the initiatives undertaken by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, in the economic and medical sectors have been designed with the objective of enhancing the health of Tanzanians. Furthermore, she emphasised that her embassy will utilise all available avenues to guarantee the successful implementation of the project for the benefit of Tanzanians.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is an international financial institution with a Pan-African mandate, responsible for providing financial resources and facilitating business development in African countries.

Dr. Nchemba has led the Tanzanian delegation, which included the Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance and the Chief Payers of the Government, namely Dr. Natu El-maamry Mwamba, and the Deputy Secretary General of the Office of the President-Finance and Planning-Zanzibar, Mr. Aboud Hassan Mwinyi. The aforementioned individuals are participating in the African Caucus Meetings, which included Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from member countries of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Key Statements

The aforementioned information was disseminated by Mr. Brian Deaver, the Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Medical Excellence in Abuja, during a visit led by Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, PhD (Mb), the Minister of Finance of Tanzania. The delegation undertook an inspection of the construction site for the project, which is situated in the external environs of the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Hospital Features

Mr. Deaver highlighted several important features of the hospital:

• Capacity: The facility will have the capacity to admit 500 patients simultaneously.

• Technology: The project will make use of cutting-edge technology that has never before been deployed on the African continent, specifically for the treatment of blood cancer and sickle cell diseases.

Services Offered

The hospital, along with others to be constructed in Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania, will provide a range of services, including:

• Diagnosis

• Treatment

• Nuclear therapy

• Surgery

• Post-surgery care

Additionally, it will offer specialized services in areas such as:

• Oncology

• Haematology

• Heart diseases

Goals of the Project

Mr. Deaver underscored the project’s objectives, which include:

• Providing better health services

• Training health experts

• Conducting research

• Creating employment opportunities

• Reducing the demand for foreign currency, particularly the US dollar

• Promoting medical tourism to African countries

Financial Overview

Following the visit, Hon. Dr. Mwigulu Lameck Nchemba and Dr. Natu Elmaanry Mwamba, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance, engaged in a discussion pertaining to the financial implications of the project. The projected cost of the project is in excess of $260 million. It was observed that this pioneering project will not only improve the standard of medical care available to Tanzanian citizens but will also stimulate the medical tourism industry, attracting individuals from outside Tanzania who are seeking these services.

In conclusion, the establishment of the African Medical Centre of Excellence signifies a substantial advancement in healthcare for Tanzania and the broader African region. The facility offers cutting-edge technology and a comprehensive range of services with the objective of enhancing the quality of medical care and promoting health tourism across the continent.

Tanzania Media