Six emergency medical machines that had been unused for over two years at Karatu District Council Hospital in Arusha Region are now up and running thanks to specialist doctors dispatched under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s health outreach initiative.
The breakthrough came on May 14, 2025, during a medical camp led by a team of specialists currently offering advanced and general healthcare services at the district hospital. So far, more than 120 residents have turned up to receive treatment.
The hospital’s staff, speaking at different moments during the camp, praised the visiting doctors not only for delivering medical services but also for stepping in as trainers, helping local health workers gain the necessary skills to operate complex equipment.
Nurse Flomena Joackim, who has served at the hospital for three years, admitted that the machines had been gathering dust due to lack of training.
“These machines were brought here more than two years ago, but we didn’t know how to use them. As a result, we kept focusing on other duties. Even when we had emergency cases, we had no choice but to refer patients to DDH, the church-run hospital,” said fellow nurse Mary Semurai.
Dr. David Masanja, an anesthesia and intensive care specialist from the Rukwa Regional Referral Hospital, said he has been conducting hands-on training sessions for the hospital staff since his arrival.
“This is the second group I’m training. Yesterday I worked with six staff members, and today I’m training six more. I’m happy with how quickly they’ve grasped the lessons. After this camp, I believe they will no longer need to send emergency cases elsewhere they will handle them right here,” Dr. Masanja said.
One of the nurses, Justina Sumay, expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Samia and the Ministry of Health for bringing healthcare services closer to the people while also building the capacity of frontline workers.“This initiative is not only life-saving but also empowering,” she said.