6th African Heart Seminar - Speech by the Permanent Secretary of Health and Social Welfare

Speech by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Blandina Nyoni,
Given at the Opening of the Sixth African Heart Seminar on 7 November 2009
at the Tanzania Heart Institute Premises.

The Chief Medical Officer and Directors from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The CEO of the Tanzania Heart Institute and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 6th African Heart Seminar, Dr. Ferdinand Masau.

Directors of the 5th African Heart Seminar, Prof. Charles Yankah and Dr. Willie Koen,

Members of the Organizing Committee of the 6th AHS

Distinguished Guests,

Doctors, Nurses and Students,

Workers of THI,

Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. I wish to convey my sincere gratitude for this invitation to open this important seminar, The 6th African Heart Seminar. I would like to welcome all of you, especially all those who have traveled from different countries, to come to this meeting to Tanzania.

I am informed that, the 5th Seminar also conducted at this place. This is indeed an honour for Tanzania and the Tanzania Heart Institute. It shows that, the country is appropriate for visitors and meetings of this nature and shows that the Hospital has been found to be a suitable venue, to hold this important annual event. As one of the key Stakeholders, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is also pleased with this situation, and the recognition that the country has received as well as the Hospital. The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is pleased too, to learn that, the Hospital is moving towards diversifying its services, so that, instead of providing services only to patients with heart problems, it has started to serve people with other ailments. I applaud this move and the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, will provide all the necessary support. However, I understand that, this move will not divert the Hospital from its mission. I am sure it will improve the relationship with people living near the Hospital and beyond, because they will be able to get services of all kinds, nearer.

Invited guests,
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has been, keenly, following the activities of this Hospital. I am pleased to announce that, the Ministry supports the turn of events at this Hospital. My visit to this Hospital, on the 17th of October, 2009, confirmed that, the hospital has all the potentials to be one of the best Hospitals if it gets the required inputs in terms of personnel, equipment, supplies and the Technical Support. The Ministry has included the Public Private Partnership, as one of its strategies in the 3rd Health Sector Strategic Plan. This is to ensure that, the required environment for the private sector, to participate in the delivery of health services is maintained. I therefore urge the Tanzania Heart Institute, to utilize this opportunity. The private sector is an indispensable ally, in the provision of Health services in this country. Therefore, the Government is prepared to offer any possible assistance to the private sector, in general and to individual hospitals in particular.

Invited Guests,
This seminar as you said, was started as an initiative, of Professor Charles Yankah of Berlin University and Berlin Heart Institute and Dr. Willie Koen from Cape Town following, a successful start-up of the artificial heart program, between 2000 and 2001, at the Christian Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, South Africa. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, has also started open Heart Surgery services at its National Hospital, KCMC and Bugando Medical Centre. From the list of participants you mentioned, I have heard named of experts from the National Hospital and these other Hospitals. This shows that, there is a collaboration among the hospitals in country. The fact that, this hospital started doing open heat surgery some time before, will provide a good learning opportunity to them. I would like to commend this collaboration. This Seminar will provide another learning opportunity, to all of you, the local experts and the external experts.

I would like to thank you again for availing this opportunity, for me to officiate the opening of this seminar. I am therefore pleased and with great honour, wish to announce, that the 6th African Heart Seminar, is officially open.

I thank you for your attention and with you a great meeting.