Ten children among 58 identified with hydrocephalus and spina bifida in Morogoro Region are expected to be referred to Muhimbili National Hospital for further treatment, as medical specialists seek to address barriers limiting access to specialised healthcare.
The referrals are part of a medical outreach programme intended to bring specialist services closer to families who often struggle to meet the cost of treatment and transport to referral hospitals.
The exercise, which began on October 20 at the Police Dispensary in Morogoro, involves specialists from the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) in collaboration with the Tanzania Police Force.
The initiative focuses on examining children with hydrocephalus, commonly known as fluid accumulation in the brain, and spina bifida, a birth defect affecting the development of the spine and spinal cord.
Speaking during the exercise, Francis Duwe said children and other people living with disabilities continued to face challenges accessing healthcare, including the high cost of treatment and shortages of assistive devices.
He said the financial burden was particularly difficult for low-income families, leaving some unable to obtain the medical services their children required.
MOI neurosurgeon Dr Hamis Shabani said reaching out to affected children was important in identifying their medical needs and ensuring those requiring specialised intervention received appropriate care.
He said the screening exercise would help determine which children needed further treatment and facilitate their referral to appropriate healthcare facilities.
Morogoro Municipal Medical Officer Dr Christina Guveti called for stronger efforts to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable groups, particularly children with disabilities.
She said reducing barriers to medical services was essential to ensuring that children received treatment when needed.
Meanwhile, Morogoro Regional Police Commander ACP Andrew Kantimbo urged parents and communities to stop discriminating against children with disabilities.
He called on families to provide the children with love, support and encouragement, stressing the importance of helping them access healthcare and participate fully in society.
The outreach is expected to reduce the burden on affected families by identifying children requiring advanced treatment and facilitating referrals to Muhimbili National Hospital.