THE Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute of (JKCI), has organized a four-day camp to screen and treat heart patients starting from tomorrow for the residents of Arusha and neighboring Regions.

Speaking to journalists today, the Executive Director of JKCI, Dr. Peter Kisenge said that they have organized the camp in collaboration with Arusha Lutheran Medical Center ( Selian).

Dr. Kisenge said they have also collaborated with the Arusha Regional Governor's Office to organize the camp where they hope to conduct heart screening to many people and give treatment to those who will be found to have heart problems.

He said the camp will be held from Tuesday the 15th  to the 18th  at the grounds of the Arusha Lutheran Medica Center and that those who will be served include the neighboring regions of Arusha.

He asked the citizens of Arusha and neighboring regions to come out in large numbers to  check  their health status because those who will be found to have heart problems will be treated and the critical ones will be referred to JKCI in Dar es Salaam for further treatment.

Dr Kisenge said that at the camp nutritionists will be there to provide education on how to eat food to avoid non-communicable diseases including heart disease.

"People should come take advantage of this opportunity because those who will be found to have heart problems will be treated immediately or referred to JKCI Dar es Salaam if necessary ," he said.

He said the society should create a culture of testing  their heart health regularly as some people have been living with the disease without knowing it but if they had tested earlier they would have found out and get treatment earlier.

He said people should also consider the advice of experts regarding good nutrition because if they focus on good nutrition, they will avoid many none communicable diseases, such as heart disease.

"People should pay attention to good nutrition and listen to experts about proper eating that will prevent them from various non-communicable diseases, most of which are caused by improper eating and JKCI experts will be in Arusha to give them that education," said Dr. Kisenge

He said that JKCI has continued to strengthen itself by having medical equipment with modern technology and expert cardiologists, which has reduced the dependence on sending cardiac patients for treatment abroad for over 90 percent.

Dr. Kisenge thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for continuing to invest in the institution which has now become a preference for many African countries due to having expert doctors and modern equipment like those found in developed countries.

He said that some African countries have been asking JKCI doctors to provide training in heart treatment in their countries and added that recently JKCI experts were in Zambia for similar work.

Dr. Kisenge said JKCI was providing treatment and heart screening at the mineral exhibition in Geita region in collaboration with the Chato regional hospital.

He said that the institution will continue to cooperate with all hospitals in the country to ensure that they fulfill the dreams of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to make Tanzania a center for medical tourism.

"Going to Arusha is a continuation of what we were doing at the mineral exhibitions in collaboration with the Chato regional hospital," he said. 

On his side, Professor Mohamed Janabi, who is the Director General of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), thanked the efforts and creativity of the Arusha Regional Commissioner, Paul Makonda for collaborating with hospitals in the region to ensure that Tanzania becomes the center of medical tourism.