THE government of the Comoros has expressed the wish to deepen cooperation with the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), to build the capacity of its medical professionals.

Soudjay Mohamed, the Comorian Health ministry permanent secretary, made this pledge during an official visit at MNH in Dar es Salaam yesterday, expressed admiration for the hospital’s advanced medical services and expertise.

Taking note of the technology and service delivery systems, he expressed the wish to strengthen collaboration with Muhimbili so as to train specialists and enhance health services for the people.

MNH achievements have set a benchmark or the eastern African zone and elsewhere, he said, pointing at the African Union citation for President Samia Suluhu Hassan as healthcare champion as illustrating those transformative strides. 

Tanzania’s healthcare sector was inspirational for neighbouring countries seeking to improve their own health systems and improve healthcare services for citizens, he said, while MNH executive director Dr Delilah Kimambo reaffirmed the hospital’s readiness to expand the partnership for mutual benefit.

“We are fully prepared to host Comorian specialists for training and knowledge exchange,” she said, describing the collaboration as part of MNH outreach efforts in the sub-region and island nations in the past few years.

The hospital plans to facilitate hands-on training and mentorship programmes, with Comorian doctors and other staff gaining experience in specialised units like advanced diagnostics, critical care and surgical procedures, she explained.

The visit is a milestone for bilateral cooperation in the sector, fostering cross-border collaboration to share expertise, advance medical research and improve access to quality healthcare services for people on either side, she said.

The collaboration is aligned with broader regional goals to enhance healthcare standards regionally, where capacity gaps often hinder access to specialised treatment, she said.

The permanent secretary toured MNH facilities and had the opportunity to observe applications of cutting-edge medical technologies and integrated service delivery systems, expressing optimism that similar innovations could be adopted in Comoros to elevate national healthcare standards.

Exposure to Muhimbili’s system and medical expertise has shown that it is a model that can be replicated to improve service delivery and patient outcomes, he added.