DAR ES SALAAM: Heart Team Africa Foundation (HTAF), in collaboration with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), has launched the ‘Kutoa Ni Moyo’ campaign aimed at raising funds and awareness to support children suffering from heart diseases in the country.
The campaign seeks to bring together Tanzanians from different walks of life to help children born with heart conditions access life-saving treatment and specialised cardiac care services.
Speaking during the launch in Dar es Salaam, JKCI Executive Director, Dr Peter Kisenge, said heart diseases among children remain a major health challenge in Tanzania and require collective efforts from all stakeholders.
“In Tanzania, over 16,000 children are born every year with heart defects. This means many families continue to receive life-changing news regarding the health of their children,” Dr Kisenge said.
He noted that about 4,000 children urgently require heart surgery, stressing that for many families, timely treatment is critical to saving lives.
“Through the Kutoa Ni Moyo campaign, we are calling upon Tanzanians, private institutions, organisations and government agencies to join efforts in supporting children with heart conditions by contributing through the campaign platform,” he said.
On her part, HTAF Chief Executive Officer, Dr Naizihijwa Majani, said the initiative is not only focused on fundraising, but also on increasing public awareness about heart health and encouraging community participation in supporting affected children and families.
“Tanzania has a strong culture of solidarity and mutual support. Kutoa Ni Moyo transforms small individual contributions into a powerful national movement capable of making a significant impact in saving children’s lives,” Dr Majani said.
According to global health statistics, cardiovascular diseases claim 17.9 million lives annually, making them the leading cause of death worldwide.
She further noted that one in every 100 children is born with a heart condition, calling on the public to support efforts aimed at improving access to treatment.
“No parent should be forced to watch their child suffer simply because they cannot afford treatment,” she stressed.
The campaign targets to raise 25bn/- through contributions from individuals, companies, development partners, institutions, diaspora communities, celebrities, sports organisations and the general public.
Funds raised will support heart surgeries and treatment for children, early diagnosis and screening programmes, heart health awareness initiatives as well as support services for affected families.
The campaign will also utilise digital technology and online fundraising platforms to enable Tanzanians within and outside the country to contribute conveniently and transparently.
Meanwhile, organisers said initial fundraising efforts by stakeholders and partners have already raised more than 3.08bn/- in cash and in-kind contributions, reflecting the willingness of Tanzanians to support life-saving initiatives.