Zambian National Heart Hospital and the Rwanda King Faisal Hospital (KFH) have signed trendsetting agreements with Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.
In a statement released on Thursday, the historic agreements will provide lifesaving medical care to thousands of children in Sub-Saharan Africa suffering from congenital heart defects.
It will also facilitate the sharing of medical skills and knowledge among medical centers within the three countries, the statement read.
“This signifies an important milestone in enhancing future cooperation in pediatric cardiac care between Zambia, Rwanda, and the existing center in Tanzania,” noted the statement.
The ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Peter Kisenge, said the agreement will strengthen the delivery of quality cardiac services in Africa.
“I am very enthusiastic for the collaborations that the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute will establish with the National Heart of Zambia through its Ministry of Health and King Faisal Hospital in Rwanda,” Kikwete said.
Through the cooperation, more than 1,000 Tanzanian children suffering from congenital heart conditions have been treated, over the last 20 years.
In addition, 23 medical professionals specializing in pediatric cardiac care have been trained.
The new agreements will also pave way for knowledge transfers between the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute and the two medical centers in Zambia and Rwanda with the assistance of Save a Child’s Heart (Israel).
The agreements were signed and witnessed by Tanzania’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Seif Shekalaghe, Zambia’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, George Sinyangwe, and Director of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Peter Kisenge.
Others present in the ceremony included, Senior Medical Superintendent of the Zambia National Heart Hospital, Chabwela Shumba and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda King Faisal Hospital, Frederic Ngirabacu.
Source: The Star
