The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)’s Committee on General Purpose has praised Tanzania for making impressive strides in the development of cardiovascular sciences and cardiac medical services.
The committee, which is in Tanzania for a special four-day tour of the Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences, observed that Tanzania has successfully established a number of world-class cardiac facilities that can help reduce the need for patients from East African countries to travel outside the continent in search of specialised cardiac treatment.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Ms Mary Mugyenyi, said the committee was impressed by the development of the institute and the centre, as well as the work being undertaken in cardiovascular education, training and patient treatment in Tanzania.
Speaking after visiting the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Ms Mugyenyi said the committee had witnessed how technology is being applied in medical services, visited the laboratory and observed the services being provided to patients.
“Today we have visited the [unclear] Heart Institute, where we have actually seen the work in practice with the patients. We have seen the technological development, we visited the labs, and we are really impressed that such facilities are now available in East Africa,” she said.
Regarding the excellence Tanzania has so far achieved, Ms Mugyenyi vowed that the committee would serve as a frontline ambassador in informing the public across other East African countries that they do not have to travel as far as India, Turkey and other countries to seek cardiac treatment, which may be unaffordable, particularly for those who cannot afford the high costs involved.
“These cardiac centres that Tanzania has established play a very important role, and East Africans should know it, and even Africans should know it, that they can come to Dar es Salaam and access all these medical facilities in the area of heart treatment and training,” she insisted.
She noted that cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality across the region.
“Our citizens deserve access to timely, specialised and affordable cardiovascular care, delivered as close to home as possible. Equally, our region needs a sustainable pipeline of specialist clinicians, researchers and biomedical innovators who are trained within East Africa, for East Africa,” she added.
She saluted the Government of Tanzania for hosting the committee with open arms.
She insisted that the committee would continue to encourage East Africans to learn about the availability of these services, including treatment and training in the area of cardiovascular diseases, while praising Tanzania for enabling the development of such centres.