DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Thousands of Tanzanians are set to benefit from free specialist medical services as the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) hosts the sixth East African Community (EAC) Armed Forces Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Week. The week-long initiative, which runs from August 26 to September 1, 2026, aims to bring tangible benefits to local communities through free medical assistance, renovation of public facilities, and donations to prisons and orphanages.
The event brings together military medical specialists from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda, and the host nation, Tanzania. Medical services are being provided in Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Arusha, Dodoma, and Zanzibar, covering a wide range of specialist care including orthopaedics, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, paediatrics, ENT, dental care, dermatology, and ophthalmology.
Addressing Tropical Disease Burden
Major Dr. Aziz Diwani Rajabu, an internal medicine specialist of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force, highlighted the initiative’s focus on diseases prevalent in the region. “We are focusing on all the diseases affecting our communities. We are in a tropical disease zone. That is why our team consists of doctors from various specialties as well as other healthcare providers,” Major Dr. Rajabu told Sputnik Africa.
TPDF Director of Medical Services Administration, Brigadier General Dr. Agatha Mary Katua, noted that the programme would strengthen existing health services, particularly maternal and child health, paediatric care, and other specialist services. Patients requiring services beyond the scope of the exercise will be referred to other hospitals through normal procedures.
Regional Cooperation in Action
The initiative, first held in Uganda in 2020, is conducted in accordance with the EAC Protocol on Cooperation in Defence Affairs. TPDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Salum Haji Othman, who officially launched the event at Lugalo Golf Course in Dar es Salaam, emphasized that the cooperation among East African forces “is a sign of trust and solidarity”.
Rwanda is represented by a contingent of 20 medical personnel led by Brig Gen Dr Jean Chrysostome Kagimbana, working alongside their counterparts at facilities including Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital in the Coast Region.
Community Impact and Reception
The programme has been warmly welcomed by local communities, who praised the access to free health screenings and treatments. On the first day alone, 183 patients received treatment at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital.
Angelus Polycarp Mwaya, a resident of Mlandizi in Kibaha District, praised the joint efforts of the military medical teams. “The programme strengthens the good relationship between the community and uniformed personnel,” he said.
Another resident, Ally Joan from Mlandizi, noted that many patients came seeking treatment, including those with serious conditions requiring specialist care. He described the exercise as “a valuable opportunity for people to check their health”.
Beyond Healthcare: Community Support
The programme extends beyond medical services. Military teams will also support rehabilitation of selected social infrastructure and provide donations to vulnerable groups. Facilities earmarked for renovation include the National Children’s Home in Kurasini, Mapinduzi Health Centre in Chamwino, Dodoma, and Kibokoni Health Centre in Pemba.
Donations will be made to Segerea Prison in Dar es Salaam, Kisongo Prison in Arusha, and orphanages including Mwandaiwa Orphanage Centre and SOS Children’s Village in Zanzibar.
The closing ceremony is scheduled for September 1, coinciding with the TPDF’s 62nd anniversary, marking the establishment of the force in 1964. Tanzania last hosted the event in 2022, with Somalia expected to host the next edition.
