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| Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (centre) poses for a group photo with leaders of Japan-based Tokushukai Medical Group and officials from health institutions and universities of both countries, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on kidney transplant collaboration in Osaka, Japan. |
TOKYO, JAPAN – Tanzania has marked a major milestone in its healthcare journey with the announcement of plans to construct a state-of-the-art Kidney Transplant Centre and Training Facility at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital (BMH) in Dodoma.
Set to become the largest kidney transplant centre in Sub-Saharan Africa, the facility will revolutionize medical care, training, and research in the region.
Strategic Partnership with Japan’s Tokushukai Medical Group
The announcement was made official through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Tanzania and Tokushukai, a renowned Japanese medical organization committed to improving healthcare services globally.
The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the Tanzania-Japan Business, Investment, and Tourism Forum in Osaka, witnessed by Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
A Collaborative Project for Regional Impact
The centre will be developed in collaboration with Tokushukai and the University of Dodoma (UDOM), with an estimated investment exceeding TZS 28 billion, provided as an unconditional grant.
According to Prof. Abel Makubi, CEO of Benjamin Mkapa Hospital:
“This MoU is aimed at establishing a centre of excellence for kidney transplantation within Tanzania and the wider Sub-Saharan region.”
He added that construction is set to begin later this year, with the facility expected to commence services within three years. The Government of Tanzania has pledged full support to ensure timely and efficient completion of the project.
Transforming Healthcare and Training
Beyond offering advanced transplant services, the centre will focus on:
- Specialized training for kidney transplant professionals
- Collaborative research on prevention and reduction of kidney diseases
- Establishing a biomedical engineering program to support local manufacturing and maintenance of medical equipment
Prof. Lugano Kusiluka, UDOM Deputy Vice-Chancellor, emphasized:
“With this agreement, besides training specialists on kidney transplants, we will teach them how to manufacture and maintain medical equipment to avoid damage and reduce reliance on foreign experts.”
Regional Training and Future Expansion
The facility is expected to evolve into a regional hub for organ transplantation, offering training to healthcare professionals from across Africa. Plans are underway to expand services to include other types of organ transplants in the future.
Additionally, another MoU was signed between UDOM, BMH, and the Africa-Japan Economic and Development Cooperation Association (AFRECO). These agreements are part of six MoUs signed between Tanzania, Zanzibar, and various Japanese organizations during the forum.
Positioning Tanzania as a Healthcare Leader
This strategic initiative underlines Tanzania's commitment to positioning itself as a leader in specialized healthcare services in Africa, in line with its participation in World Expo Osaka 2025.
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