TANZANIA: THE contributions of the Korea Foundation International Healthcare (KOFIH) Global Alumni (KGA) to their communities exemplifies the transformative potential of alumni giving back to their communities.

The KGA is a network of professionals who have undertaken studies in Korea committed to making meaningful changes in healthcare.

Their efforts go beyond personal achievements thus they play a vital role in uplifting communities and enhancing public health.

By applying their knowledge, fostering collaboration and advocating for change, KGA members are instrumental in building healthier communities. Their work not only benefits those around them but also supports Tanzania’s mission to promote health equity and improve health outcomes for all.

At the recent KGA Annual Meeting, members gathered to share experiences, celebrate achievements and discuss future collaborations aimed at advancing healthcare in Tanzania.

KOFIH Country Representative Mr Seo Gyeongbae emphasised the organisation’s ongoing support for Tanzania’s healthcare policies and systems, noting that 190 Tanzanian healthcare professionals have enhanced their skills through specialised training programmes in Korea which are sponsored by KOFIH.

These programmes focus on advancing Tanzania’s healthcare system through international collaboration and capacity-building initiatives.

Over the past 16 years, KOFIH has offered a total of eight training programmes, covering areas such as clinical expertise, biomedical engineering and health policy, benefitting Tanzanians professionals.

Mr Gyeongbae emphasises the significant impact of the programmes on the healthcare sector, stating that they serve not only as educational opportunities but also as platforms for Tanzanian professionals to engage with diverse perspectives, broaden their outlook and strategies on healthcare development.

The KOFIH representative urged the KGA alumni to continue sharing their experiences and insights, fostering collaboration and solidarity for a healthier future. “As we each fulfil our roles, we must also cultivate the power to drive positive change together,” he added.

Mr Gyeongbae reaffirmed KOFIH’s commitment to sustainable healthcare development in Tanzania, aiming to improve service delivery and ensure better health outcomes for Tanzanian citizens.

Ms Perpetua Mwambingu, Senior Health Secretary from the National Health Laboratory, explains through collaborative efforts with over ten local health authorities and international organisations, KGA has trained more than 200 healthcare professionals, thereby strengthening Tanzania’s regional healthcare systems.

KGA activities have been well implemented in the country such as the region of Geita, Singida, Shinyanga, Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Coastal and so forth.

Achievements 2016-2023

From 2016 to 2023 a total of 249 out of 422 which is 59 per cent of employed biomedical engineer professionals in Tanzania attended Local Training CEOMETs. Out of them 26 biomedical engineer personnels attended Dr Wook Lee Jong Fellowship programme in South Korea which is 6.16 per cent of the employed team in Tanzania.

This proves how the government of South Korea feels responsible to support improvement of Health Care Technical Services in Tanzania.

Despite the above achievements Healthcare initiatives reached over 300 individuals in underserved areas as well as collaborated with 10+ local health authorities and international organisations to enhance regional healthcare systems.

KGA also built strong relationships with institutions like Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and Sekou-Toure Regional Hospital, UDSM, KOICA Tanzania and other local authorities within the country to promote networking, knowledge sharing and academic exchanges.

This enables alumni to apply techniques learned during training in Korea to benefit healthcare systems in their home countries.

She said the ongoing collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and PO-RALG strengthen healthcare infrastructure.

Some programmes conducted by KGA in the country include; Biomedical Equipment User Training in Lindi which enhanced healthcare workers’ capacity to operate and maintain equipment. They trained biomedical equipment users trainers to six district hospitals.

Motorcycle Accident Prevention in Dodoma. The programme aimed to reduce road traffic injuries and awareness programmes.

In 2018 KGA built a Haematological and Urine Analysers Validation in Mbeya, Phase 1 ensures accurate lab diagnostics through quality assurance processes.

Mentorship for Biomedical Equipment Technicians in Lindi to strengthen technical knowledge and hands-on skills. This improved performance and life span of medical equipment , Improvement of Medical equipment user maintenance management and application and national strategy of improving health care service.

KGA members often have advanced training and expertise in healthcare and public health in some parts of the country.

Moreover, the KOFIH provided a support of 19.4m/- to KGA to the sanctioning Machine to facilitate the provision of maternal and child care.

It helps to save maternal mortality for 187 mothers within two years and one month since the machine went into operation.

Due to the lack of sturdy delivery beds to ensure the comfort of pregnant women during childbirth the machine plays a crucial role in providing warmth to newborns who are born with low body temperatures.

Ms Mwambingu says beds helped to save the deaths of at least 138 babies born with complications from November, 2022 to October 2024.

The KGA Tanzania President, Dr Lulu Sakafu expressed her gratitude for the skills and experiences gained through the Korean training programmes.

She noted that these programmes have empowered Tanzanian health professionals, enabling them to bring new knowledge and expertise to their roles.

Dr Sakafu also stressed the importance of networking and learning from global best practices, highlighting KGA’s commitment to give back to society and directly benefit Tanzanians.

“As alumni, we are committed to giving back to our society by contributing to the improvement of healthcare, especially in underserved areas. Each of us remains dedicated to this mission, using the diverse skills and experiences we’ve gained to make a meaningful impact,” Dr Sakafu says.

She says the attitude builds a sustainable goal to foster long-term partnerships with both local governments and international bodies to ensure the sustainability of healthcare improvements.

She says Alumni serve as mentors to emerging healthcare professionals, providing valuable insights and support which fosters the development of future leaders in the healthcare sector, ensuring a sustainable impact on community health.

She said KGA aimed at motivates others to get involved creating a culture of community engagement and collective action.

Moreover, Dr Sakafu emphasised the importance of community engagement and awareness in tackling Noncommunicable Diseases. She noted that educating the public about the risks and symptoms of the diseases is crucial for early detection and intervention.

The president said the initiative aims to not only provide screenings but also to foster a culture of regular health checkups.

“By promoting preventive measures, we can significantly reduce the burden of these diseases on our healthcare system,” she added.

Furthermore, she highlighted the need for collaboration with various stakeholders including local governments and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to ensure the programme’s success. The goal is to create a sustainable healthcare model that prioritises preventive care alongside treatment.

In addition to the screenings, there will be workshops and training sessions for healthcare providers to enhance their skills in managing non-communicable diseases. Dr Sakafu believes that empowering healthcare workers is vital for improving health outcomes in the community.

Overall, the comprehensive approach aims to create a healthier population in Dar es Salaam, ultimately contributing to the broader goals of public health in Tanzania.

“The Sustainable Development Goals require us to reduce one-third of neonatal deaths from NDC diseases by 2030 so that by providing treatment and preventive services we can achieve this target,” she explained.

Dr Sakafu insisted that they latforms to educate on how to detect, prevent and control diseases.

She said the clinicians and ICU nurses currently are able to suspect electrolytes imbalance and decide to take samples for investigations.

Clinicians/nurses take and store samples for electrolytes properly and timely sent to laboratory as well as able to manage electrolytes properly and timely with good outcome.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr Ahn Eun-Ju stated that through the training, they will be able to tackle various challenges in the future and that the experiences they gained should be used to create better environments for health services.

Mr Zacharia Mashaka who participated in the seminar held in the Dodoma Hotel by KGA explained the takeaways from the seminar was how to assist colleagues involved in accidents.

“Before attending, we were unsure how to help a fellow Bodaboda rider who had been injured. However, after the seminar, we learned the basics of providing first aid and how to quickly transport someone to the hospital for further treatment,” stressed Mr Mashaka.