Advancing urology in Tanzania: Supporting new equipment and training

KCMC is a major training hospital in northern Tanzania, affiliated with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, the medical faculty of Tumaini University. With an intake of around 200 medical students each year, it serves as the principal referral hospital for approximately 15 million people from low-resource communities in the region. The urology department is a key training centre for East Africa.

Equipment for new ‘Skills Lab’

The past year has been particularly significant, with Olympus delivering the first part of a highly impactful equipment donation for educational purposes to establish a ‘skills laboratory’ at KCMC. Supported and coordinated by the EAU, this facility will enable residents in training to gain essential hands-on experience in laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques before performing live surgeries - a critical step forward in patient safety and surgical confidence. At present, young residents in training are obliged to build up their experience through live surgery in the theatre. 

The final components for the ‘Skills Lab” - a high-resolution monitor, camera, and trolley - are expected to arrive in the second half of 2025, completing what will be one of the most advanced urological training labs in East Africa. Once operational, the training lab will align KCMC more closely with international surgical education standards. 

This latest equipment donation for educational purposes builds on 10-years of support from Olympus. Earlier contributions included endoscopic instruments for treating the prostate, urethra, and bladder, laying the foundation for more advanced procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) and ureteroscopic stone management.

Progress with educational support

The commitment from the EAU to training is now yielding tangible results. In 2024, the KCMC urology department celebrated the graduation of five new urologists, including the first two female urologists in Tanzania, Dr. Esther Lekei and Dr. Janeth Frank Mpelumbe. For 2025, 28 residents are in training, and the urology department is now a regional hub for urological education in East Africa.

Training programmes offered include a four-year Master of Medicine (MMed) in urology and a two-year Master of Science (MSc) for already qualified surgeons. This curriculum also includes bedside teaching, surgical exposure, and access to international faculty, made possible through EAU/GPC support. The new Olympus equipment in the skills lab will be pivotal in supporting these trainees.

Hands-on training guided by international experts

Thanks to the support from the EAU, tailored educational modules were developed with the participation of external faculty, and training costs for local doctors were subsidised who might otherwise lack access to such high-level instruction.

Of note, the 2024 Intensive Interactive Training Programme (IITP) was held at KCMC. Under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Bogdanowicz (NL, TZ) and Prof. Rien Nijman (NL), the scientific programme focused on reconstructive paediatric surgery, spina bifida, urodynamic investigations and practical sessions around ultrasound. Over 10 days, delegates participated in clinical discussions, surgical procedures, and practical demonstrations. A total of 23 patients were presented by urology residents and thoroughly discussed for expert treatment planning. Fourteen surgeries were performed successfully, including laparoscopies, PUV valve resections, orchiopexies for undescended testes, hydrocele repairs, meatotomies, and complex hypospadias reconstructions. 

Crucially, the EAU and other societies provided essential materials not locally available at the national medical stores in Tanzania, including highly specialised sutures (Monocryl 5/0 and 6/0). A complete hypospadias surgical set consisting of very fine specialised equipment, with two pick-ups, needle-holder, specialised Jameson scissors and paediatric probes Ch6, Ch8, Ch10 were also donated. These donations for educational purposes directly improved surgical outcomes and enhanced the training experience - an excellent example of targeted, high-impact support addressing local shortages and improving surgical capabilities.

As part of the programme's outreach efforts, Prof. Nijman and a team from KCMC visited Faraja Primary School for the Disabled in Sanya Juu to explore potential collaborations for supporting children with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and neurological impairments. A long-term partnership has been proposed, with further assessments and developments scheduled for 2025 during Prof. Nijman's next visit.

Future plans

According to Dr. Bogdanowicz, future ambitions include expanding minimally invasive services with the introduction of flexible and laser technology. As KCMC strengthens its financial independence, it can take greater ownership of these innovations, ensuring that the impact of the past decade of equipment and training opportunities translates into long-term change.

This 10-year long collaboration with the urology department at KCMC is a powerful example of what focused, strategic partnerships can achieve in low-resource settings. The combination of modern equipment donations for educational purposes from Olympus and targeted educational funding from the EAU has created a sustainable platform for training, service delivery, and innovation.