TANZANIA – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US $75 million loan to Tanzania to support the second phase of the Centre of Excellence for Skills and Tertiary Education in Biomedical Sciences project.
The initiative, with a total cost of US $83.3 million, will receive additional funding of US $8.33 million from the Tanzanian government.
Spanning five years from 2025 to 2029, the project aims to create a highly skilled and competitive workforce capable of addressing cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania, the East African Community, and across the continent.
The core objective of this phase is to enhance skills, infrastructure, and high-quality training to improve prevention and treatment of cardiovascular conditions.
Specifically, the project, approved on November 27, 2024, will focus on constructing a state-of-the-art 600-bed cardiology teaching hospital equipped with cutting-edge medical technology.
Additionally, it will support the training of 120 university staff and 100 students—45% of whom will be women in each group—to treat cardiovascular patients locally, significantly reducing costs and improving access to care.
The Centre of Excellence, located on the Mloganzila campus of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), will be fully equipped for biomedical sciences training and cardiovascular disease treatment.
The first phase of the project established the administrative and training facilities at the campus, laying a strong foundation for the upcoming developments.
The second phase will also complement the work of the 38 MUHAS educators who were trained during the first phase.
Importantly, 20% of the students in this phase will receive full scholarships, with a particular focus on supporting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, including women and people with disabilities.
Patricia Laverley, AfDB’s Country Manager for Tanzania, highlighted the transformative impact of the project, stating, “The Bank is supporting the proposed Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Sciences in Tanzania as it is expected to deliver substantial health-related and economic benefits by improving the management and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
By focusing on the training of specialized human resources and the creation of a state-of-the-art cardiology teaching hospital, the project will help to reduce morbidity and mortality rates, improve productivity, and lower healthcare costs.”
The AfDB has a long history of supporting Tanzania’s healthcare sector. Between 2007 and 2015, the African Development Bank provided $60 million in loans for the Maternal Mortality Reduction Project, which focused on improving healthcare infrastructure and services.
The project upgraded six clinics, built 40 staff dormitories in Zanzibar, purchased ambulances, connected health centers via radio, and doubled student intake at the region’s main medical school.
Furthermore, the AfDB’s Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa addresses the continent’s growing health needs, projected to increase by 23% between 2021 and 2030.
The Bank also contributes to healthcare improvements through initiatives like the Health in Africa Fund, which supports health system development across the continent.
