EXIM BANK TANZANIA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SERVICE BY INVESTING SH 200 MILLION INTO THE LOCAL HEALH CARE SECTOR

Chief Financial Officer of Exim Bank Tanzania, Selemani Ponda (left) hands over 40 beds and mattresses to Dr. Husna Msangi of Temeke Municipal Hospital. The handover was part of the Bank's 20th anniversary in which it will donate 500 beds and mattresses worth 200m/- to public hospitals in 13 regions across the country.

15th August 2017, Dar es Salaam - Exim Bank Tanzania has marked 20 years of service by launching a year-long corporate social responsibility project dubbed “20 years of taking care of the community” that will invest Sh 200 million into the Tanzanian health care. In an attempt to address the chronic bed capacity issue plaguing the nation, Exim Bank will donate 500 mattresses and beds to public hospitals in 13 regions across the country.

This was announced at the bank’s 20th anniversary celebration, which the bank held at Temeke Municipal Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the first hospital to become a beneficiary of the project.

Speaking at the ceremony, Exim Bank’s CFO, Mr. Selemani Ponda said, “This year Exim Bank has reached a significant milestone. We are celebrating two decades of innovation and commitment to our community. For years, Exim Bank has invested heavily in the health, environment and education sector in Tanzania. We are recognizant of the government’s commitment in improving the health care sector, therefore we have dedicated this entire year to invest in public hospitals across the country”.

Hospitals and clinics across the country suffer from chronic unavailability of medicine, medical supplies and beds, especially in public referral hospitals. World Health Organization statistics indicate that Tanzania currently has about 7 beds per 10,000 people. Currently, scenes of two or more expectant women in a bed or some even sleeping on the floor have become quite common in public hospitals.

Temeke Municipal Hospital, Chief Doctor, Dr. Gwamaka Mwabulambo, commented, “Shortages of beds is one of the biggest challenges we face in Temeke Hospital. We specifically have a need beds in the children and post natal wards. The donation of 40 beds and mattresses from Exim Bank will go a long way in addressing this issue”.

As part of the year long donation project “20 years of caring for the community”, Exim Bank will donate 500 beds and mattresses to hospitals in Mbeya, Arusha, Mwanza, Morogoro, Tanga, Dodoma, Kigoma, Kiliamanjaro, Shinyanga, Mtwara, Pemba and Unguja.

The bank, which was recognized as Tanzania’s Best Retail Bank by Banker Africa East Africa 2017, is celebrating 20 years of success, growth and pioneering into new markets across the continent. Exim Bank (Tanzania) Limited was established in 1997 and expanded its market by opening subsidiaries in Comoros (2007), Djibouti (2010) and Uganda (2016). The bank holds pride in being the first local bank to go offshore. Its core objective is to create investment value to its shareholders and achieve growth through delivery of differentiated and customized services.

Last year Exim Bank posted a pre-tax profit of Sh 83.3 billion making it the 4th biggest bank in terms of assets in Tanzania. Within a short span of 19 years of its existence, the bank has built a strong brand through its geographical reach, innovative products, relationship management and its ability to provide a faster turnaround in services.