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Emergency Aid and Disaster Response
AmeriCares recent work in Tanzania has been around strengthening health care and hospital programs, including emergency preparedness and providing essential supplies for emergency rooms in some of the country's busiest hospitals. In Tanzania, emergency rooms are commonly referred to as "casualty rooms" due to the high mortality rates of victims of serious accidents.
During the first stages of the Rwandan refugee crisis in 1994, AmeriCares airlifted relief supplies to the Benaco refugee camp near Ngara, Tanzania. AmeriCares donations were also vital in the treatment of Rwandan refugees who fled to the Mwanza area. In 1996, AmeriCares sent a shipment of relief supplies to treat the victims of a disastrous ferry accident on Lake Victoria.
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
Since 1994, AmeriCares has provided more than $48 million worth of medical aid to Tanzania. AmeriCares' primary partner has been the country's Bugando Medical Centre. During this time, the Bugando Medical Centre has grown to a 900-bed facility that serves a population of 13 million people. In fact, the hospital serves nearly one-third of the country's population, which is densely clustered around Lake Victoria.
Doctors from Tanzania, the United States and Europe see 40,000 inpatient and 200,000 outpatient visits annually. Malaria is the leading cause of hospital visits , with tuberculosis, diabetes and HIV/AIDS close behind. Bugando also offers specialized health care such as gynecology, cardiology, radiology, tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia treatment, and pre- and postnatal services.
In 2007 and 2008, AmeriCares delivered over $11.5 million worth of medicines and medical supplies to Bugando Medical Centre.
AmeriCares also helps this leading-edge, nonprofit hospital fill resource gaps and maintain a high quality of care with donations of essential medicines and hospital supplies and products for health worker safety and hygiene. Read more about our Health Worker Safety initiative.
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