EAC Officials Visit Tanzania Hospital as Somali Doctors Provide Free Medical Services
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Officials involved in military cooperation among member states of the East African Community (EAC) visited Vijibweni Hospital in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam, where Somali doctors are taking part in a free medical outreach programme serving local communities.The visit took place during the sixth edition of the EAC Armed Forces Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Week, being held in Tanzania from August 26 to September 1, 2026. The programme brings together medical teams from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania.
At Vijibweni Hospital, the visiting officials were briefed on the medical services being provided and the role of Somali doctors in delivering care to members of the local community.According to information released about the programme, Somali medical personnel have been providing treatment and medical consultations during the week, with services aimed particularly at people who may not be able to afford healthcare costs. Children, elderly people and mothers are among those receiving care.
Tanzanian health authorities identify Vijibweni Hospital as a government district-level hospital located in Kigamboni District, Dar es Salaam. The facility is among the healthcare centres being used for the CIMIC activities, where participating medical teams are providing specialised services to members of the public.The EAC CIMIC Week extends beyond healthcare. Tanzanian officials said activities during the programme also include support for childcare facilities and prisons, as well as rehabilitation work at selected community service facilities.
Medical outreach activities are being conducted at various locations across Dar es Salaam, Pwani, Arusha and Zanzibar.Tanzania previously hosted the EAC CIMIC Week in 2022. According to Tanzania’s government-run Daily News, Somalia is expected to host the next edition of the programme.The EAC CIMIC initiative is designed to strengthen cooperation among East African armed forces while bringing military personnel and civilian institutions together through humanitarian and community service activities. The regional bloc has previously highlighted healthcare, community development and stronger relations between military institutions and civilians as key areas of focus.
The activities at Vijibweni Hospital have provided one of the clearest examples of Somalia’s participation in the regional initiative, with Somali doctors working alongside medical teams from other EAC member states to provide healthcare services to communities in Tanzania during the week-long programme.
