JKCI specialist heart care camp provides vital services to Kagera residents

A specialist cardiac medical camp conducted by a team of experts from the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has provided significant support to residents of Kagera Region, following a strong turnout at ELCT/NWD Ndolage Hospital in Kamachumu, Muleba District, where patients received cardiac screening, medical advice, and treatment.

The camp was conducted from 3rd to 8th August 2026 and brought together three consultant cardiologists, accompanied by three other specialists from JKCI, including a cardiovascular technologist, a radiologist, and a medical equipment engineer.

The services provided during the camp included medical screening, specialist consultations, and treatment for patients with various heart-related conditions.

Residents experiencing health challenges such as high or low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, unexplained excessive fatigue, as well as patients with conditions related to diabetes and kidney disease, had the opportunity to undergo medical examinations and receive professional advice from specialist doctors.

Speaking at the launch of the camp, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) North Western Diocese, Dr. Abednego Keshomshahara, said the arrival of the specialists was an important step towards bringing specialized healthcare services closer to the people.

Bishop Keshomshahara urged residents to take advantage of such healthcare opportunities, noting that treatment for heart-related diseases can often be costly, while patients sometimes have to travel long distances in search of specialized medical services.

He said the presence of specialist doctors at Ndolage Hospital had helped reduce the burden on residents who would otherwise have to travel far, while giving them access to highly specialized medical expertise closer to home.

Speaking on behalf of the JKCI team, Dr. Samwel Jacob Rweyemamu, a Consultant Cardiologist and team leader from JKCI, said many people in the community live with heart conditions without knowing their health status.

He said the medical camp provided an important opportunity to reach out to the community, help people identify health problems at an early stage, and provide appropriate medical advice and treatment before complications arise.

Dr. Samwel Jacob Rweyemamu said that since the team arrived at Ndolage Hospital, they had attended to patients with various health conditions, including some who were found to have serious medical problems and were subsequently provided with treatment and specialist medical advice.

He emphasized the importance of people seeking medical screening even when they do not experience severe symptoms, noting that some heart conditions may exist without obvious warning signs.

Meanwhile, Ndolage Hospital Medical Officer in Charge, Dr. Lilian Kafuruki, commended the management of the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute for accepting to collaborate with Ndolage Hospital in bringing specialist healthcare services closer to the people.

Dr. Kafuruki said the arrival of the specialists was a result of the partnership agreement between Ndolage Hospital and JKCI, which continues to create opportunities for residents of Kagera to access specialized medical services without having to travel long distances.

The completion of the medical camp has brought renewed hope to the residents who received services and has demonstrated the importance of collaboration between healthcare institutions in bringing specialized medical services closer to communities.

For ELCT/NWD Ndolage Hospital, the partnership with JKCI is part of its continued efforts to improve healthcare services and ensure that residents of Kagera and neighboring areas have access to quality specialized medical care closer to home.