Tanzania’s specialised cardiac care could soon reach more patients in Comoros following a request by authorities on Anjouan Island for the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) to continue conducting heart treatment camps.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to Comoros, Dr Salim Hamad, made the call during a visit to JKCI in Dar es Salaam, where he held talks with the institute’s Executive Director, Dr Peter Kisenge, on expanding access to cardiac screening and treatment services in the island nation.
Dr Hamad said the proposal followed a successful JKCI cardiac medical camp held on Anjouan in October last year, which generated significant demand for specialised heart services.
He said Anjouan authorities had expressed interest in entering into a formal agreement with JKCI to allow the medical camps to continue, describing the request as an opportunity to deepen health cooperation between Tanzania and Comoros.
“I was pleased to meet the leadership of Anjouan, who asked me to convey their interest in entering into an agreement for continued medical camps. This is an important step for our country in expanding access to specialised cardiac services,” Dr Hamad said.
The proposed arrangement would enable Comorian patients to access specialised heart screening and treatment services closer to home, potentially reducing the need to travel outside the country for care.
Dr Kisenge said the response to the previous medical camp demonstrated the level of unmet demand for cardiac services in Comoros.
“We are preparing a strategy to promote JKCI in Comoros so that more people can learn about the services we provide and reduce the burden of travelling outside Comoros to seek specialised cardiac care,” he said.
The initiative could also strengthen Tanzania’s position as a regional provider of specialised healthcare services, while creating a platform for greater exchange of medical expertise between the two countries.
For patients in Comoros, continued JKCI outreach could mean earlier diagnosis, access to specialist consultations and treatment, and reduced costs associated with travelling abroad for cardiac care.
The proposed cooperation comes as Tanzania seeks to leverage its growing capacity in specialised healthcare to support patients beyond its borders while strengthening health diplomacy within the region.
