Yas Tanzania has pledged three years of financial and material support for a health campaign aimed at expanding access to free medical screening and treatment across Zanzibar.
The commitment will enable the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation's Afya Bora, Maisha Bora campaign to continue organising annual medical camps, bringing healthcare services closer to communities that might otherwise face challenges accessing specialist treatment.
Yas Tanzania Chief Executive Officer Pierre Canton Bacara announced the commitment on November 7, 2026, during the closing ceremony of the campaign's sixth medical camp, held at Kinduni Academy grounds in North Unguja.
The five-day camp attracted more than 4,200 people within its first four days, highlighting the demand for accessible healthcare services in communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Zanzibar's Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, who is also the campaign's patron, said the initiative had enabled residents to access medical consultations, screening and treatment without travelling far from their communities or paying for the services.
He said the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar would continue working with institutions supporting efforts to improve access to social services.
Mr Abdulla commended the foundation's Chairperson, Mama Mariam Mwinyi, for championing the provision of free medical services across Zanzibar, while thanking Yas Tanzania for sponsoring the Kinduni camp and committing to support future activities.
Health Minister Nassor Ahmed Mazrui urged residents who had been identified with health conditions during the screening exercise to seek further medical attention at health centres and hospitals to prevent complications.
Presenting the camp's technical report, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Mngereza Mzee Miraji, said the government was working towards ensuring that Zanzibar could provide a wider range of diagnostic services and specialist treatment by 2030.
He said expanding local healthcare capacity would reduce the financial burden on patients who currently have to travel outside the Isles to access specialised medical services.
In May, Dr Miraji announced government plans to invest TZS1 trillion in healthcare services between 2026 and 2030, including upgrading health facilities and strengthening primary healthcare.
For Yas Tanzania, the three-year commitment is part of its broader contribution to improving access to essential services.
"Yas will stand with the Afya Bora, Maisha Bora campaign through the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation for the next three years, so that these camps return every year and benefit more people of Zanzibar," Mr Bacara said.
In addition to its sponsorship, the company donated a fully equipped dental chair and 30 tablets to support medical teams in their work beyond the camp.
Mr Bacara said Yas had also been supporting maternal healthcare through its Tumaini campaign at Mwera Pongwe in Unguja and Kinyasini in Pemba, benefiting more than 3,000 mothers in Zanzibar.
Meanwhile, Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation Chief Executive Officer Rehema Tukai said collaboration with the Ministry of Health had enabled medical teams at Kinduni to provide a range of services, including screening for heart conditions and cancer, minor surgical procedures, reproductive healthcare, eye care and dermatological services.
She said the foundation would continue organising medical camps in different parts of Zanzibar to reach more people, particularly those with limited access to specialised healthcare.
The closing ceremony also marked the launch of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development's Build Resilience campaign.