MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES MUHAS CELEBRATES THE 8TH GRADUATION CEREMONY

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1 Issue No MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES ISSN October - December, 2014 Issue No. 30 Editorial Team Prof.F. Kahabuka, Dr. M. Mwangu, Hellen Mtui Chancellor H.E. Alhaji Ali Hassan Mwinyi conferring a PhD degree to a graduate at the 8th Graduation Ceremony CELEBRATES THE 8TH GRADUATION CEREMONY The Chancellor H.E. the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania Alhaji Ali Hassan Mwinyi conferred degrees and diplomas to 952 graduates during the 8th Graduation Ceremony recently. In presenting the graduates to the Chancellor the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya said in that this year 568 graduates will be awarded different undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and 383 graduates will be awarded diploma and advanced diploma in different fields of health and allied health sciences. The Vice Chancellor further said that in response to the great need of specialists in different fields of the health sector in this country, for the academic year 2014/2015 the Vision is to become a university excelling in quality training of health professionals, research and public services with a conducive learning and working environment

2 2 Issue No. 30 Chancellor H.E. Alhaji Ali Hassan Mwinyi in a group photo with the Government and officials in the 8th Graduation Ceremony University has introduced two postgraduate programs namely; Master of Bioethics (MBE) and Master of Science in Midwifery and Women Health (MScMWH). Furthermore, he said in collaboration with other universities inside and outside the country the University is in the process of establishing a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering so as to fulfill the need of hospital medical equipment engineers in the country. Prof. Kaaya also spoke on the increased number of undergraduate students enrollment for the academic year 2014/2015 which brought a number of challenges at the University. He elaborated that there was an increased pool of qualified applicants for health and allied sciences programs, therefore universities which offer these programs were obligated to absorb them. The Vice Chancellor congratulated students and staff for their understanding and patience during these challenging times while implementing short term plans in tackling this challenge. He assured them that the University management continues with efforts in making sure that this problem is permanently solved. Speaking earlier in this ceremony, the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Deogratias Ntukamazina said the policies of this University correspond directly with the Ministry of Education and Vocational training priorities of this year as presented in the Parliamentary Budget session recently. Hon. Ntukamazima elaborated that curricula are all competency based which stresses on competencies needed in the workplace and he said that this is in line with the Ministry s goal of raising the standards of education and build proper competencies in every level of education and training. The Chairman of the Council further thanked and congratulated the Ministry for the work done in the preparation and inauguration of the Student Unit Cost Framework. He said that this guideline will not only eliminate unnecessary extra fees in higher education institutions but will increase the amount of funds received for student training at and therefore improve the environment needed for training. The 8th Graduation Ceremony was held on December 6, 2014 at the University Campus.

3 Issue No HOSTS ABEC SUMMER SCHOOL AND DESIGN COMPETITIONS The ABEC Summer School and Design Competitions participants in a group photo with the organizers and guest of honor from the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology at the opening ceremony. Mu h i m b i l i University of Health and Allied Sciences () together with Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) this year have hosted the African Biomedical Engineering Consortium (ABEC) Summer School and Design Competitions. The ABEC Summer School and Design Competitions is an initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with Prof. Arti Ahluwalia of the University of Pisa (Italy) to build sustainable capacity for biomedical engineering in Africa. Through their initiatives ABEC was formed with membership from universities of Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia and Malawi. Tanzania joined last year through. The Consortium has been organizing annual Summer School which includes biomedical engineering design competitions. Speaking in this year s Summer School, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya thanked UNECA for their tireless efforts towards the success of this event and also the team from University of Pisa for providing technical and academic support to this initiative. Prof. Kaaya said that considers ABEC initiative a great opportunity for achieving its long held dream to establish a biomedical engineering training programme. He further said ABEC is coordinating efforts to establish a training programme in biomedical engineering in the collaborating universities. He said that a generic curriculum has been developed and some of the member institutions have already started training in this programme. He said that intends to start training in biomedical engineering and it is partnering with DIT who already has a diploma programme of biomedical technology. The University is actively exploring how this programme can be mounted as soon as possible. In his closing remarks of this Summer School and Design Competition, the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, represented by the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mohammed Ali thanked UNECA and University of Pisa for this initiative and said that it will definitely go a long way towards alleviating the severe shortage of Biomedical Engineers in our countries. The Minister acknowledged the huge and compelling requirements of biomedical engineers in the country which he said cannot be ignored and therefore commended the efforts made towards this initiative and encouraged the Consortium to continue with the same dedication and vigor. This year s African Biomedical Engineering Consortium Summer School and Design Competitions, was held from the 8th to 12th December, 2014 at Regency Park Hotel, Dar es Salaam.

4 4 Issue No. 30 SIGNS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COLLABORATION WITH AFRICAN BARRICK GOLD (ABG) The Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya exchange contracts with the Vice President of the ABG Mr. Deo Manyika at the signing ceremony The Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences () and African Barrick Gold (ABG) now renamed ACASIA, recognizing the mutual interests in the fields of education, training, research and development, transfer of technology and dissemination of knowledge, and also, recognizing the importance of universities role in promotion of industrial collaboration, increased contribution to society development and, considering the already existing informal contacts between two institutions; have agreed to collaborate for mutual benefits. The two institutions agreed to collaborate through another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as a continuation of the first MoU that was signed way back in The new MoU will extend for another two years renewable. Speaking about the MoU, the Head of Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Dr. Simon Mamuya, who are the main beneficiaries of the MoU said that the collaboration seeks to achieve two main objectives. The first objective is lifting the quality of environmental and occupational health education in terms of attitude, aptitude and relevant knowledge of graduates for possible employment by African Barrick Gold and the second is improving mining operations in African Barrick Gold mines through practical attachments, post-graduate training and research conducted by the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health. The head of department narrated the benefits gained from the long existing collaboration with ABG which includes students support for practical field training, supervision of students during practical field work, student bursaries, industrial site visits, provision of laboratory equipment and student prizes. Speaking at the occasion the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya thanked the ABG for their continued support of the university training efforts. He particularly observed that this kind of collaboration was perhaps one of the best examples of public private partnership in development initiatives which should be emulated by other organizations. The Vice President of the ABG Mr. Deo Manyika speaking on behalf of his team expressed his appreciation for the continued fruitful collaboration between the two institutions. He emphasized that it has been the policy of ABG to work with communities, and institutions like and other stakeholders to address pertinent social and economic challenges facing the people of Tanzania as part of their corporate social responsibility. He expressed the willingness of ABG to continue collaborating with to attain greater successes in training and research especially in the area of environmental and occupational health. The signing ceremony that involved the Vice Chancellor on the one hand and the Vice President of ABG on the other hand, took place at on the 13th October 2014.

5 Issue No MSc. MIDWIFERY AND WOMEN S HEALTH PROGRAM OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED A team from the School of Nursing in a group photo with H.E. Ambassador Masaki Okada, Dr. Toshiko Ibe, Prof. Ephata Kaaya and officials from and JICA On December 8, 2014 the new Master of Midwifery and Women s Health Program at School of Nursing was launched. It is the first such program in Tanzania. This auspicious event was graced by the Ambassador of Japan to Tanzania, Mr. Masaki Okada; Senior Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr. Yoichiro Kimata; Keynote Speaker (Expert of JICA), Prof. Tomohiko Sugishita; President of St. Luke s International University, Dr. Toshiko Ibe; Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ephata Kaaya; Director of Planning and Investment, Dr. Dinah Gasarasi; Dean School of Nursing, Dr. Sebalda Leshabari; representatives of Tanzania Midwives Association, Muhimbili National Hospital, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; faculty members of St. Luke s and ; as well as the current, first, students of the new Masters program. During the launch, the Dean School of Nursing explained why this is such an important programme for Tanzania. Dr. Leshabari explained that over 358,000 women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Over ninety percent of the deaths are from the African Region. Currently, Tanzania s maternal mortality ratio of 454 deaths per 100,000 live births is among the highest in the world. She said that there is growing evidence that most maternal deaths and disabilities could be averted if all births were attended by a skilled midwife. The persistence of poor maternal and infant health indicators are partly due to the inadequate numbers of skilled health practitioners with special advanced preparation in midwifery and women s health. She further explained that, Humanization of Childbirth and Women/Family-Centered Care are the models upon which the program is based on. These models are adopted from Japan. She emphasized that, candidates require more than midwifery advancement and research skills. They need a broad understanding of roles and responsibilities as champions in building a base of scientific midwifery knowledge for translation into research and evidence-based practice, as well as to influence policy and developments in midwifery education and clinical practice. Your role is to promote excellence in Midwifery and Women s Health in Tanzania, Africa and beyond she commented. The Master students class representative, Denis Kashaija, added that, World Health Organization indicated that populations with less than 2.3 skilled clinical workers per 1000 people are unlikely to meet the minimum levels of quality health services needed to provide basic health care and to meet MDGs by Tanzania has a ratio of 0.52 skilled clinical health workers per 1000 people. JICA Senior Representative, Mr. Yoichiro Kimata further noted, Despite high coverage of pregnant women in Tanzania, 96% of whom attend at least one antenatal clinic, only half of the

6 6 Issue No. 30 The Dean Of Nursing, Dr. Selbada Leshabari holding a present received from the President of St. Luke s International University, Dr. Toshiko Ibe women (51%) have access to skilled delivery. As part of the keynote speech, Professor Tomohiko Sugishita, explained why Japan in general and St. Luke s International University in particular are happy to be partnering with School of Nursing at in developing this new Masters of Midwifery and Women s Health. His bright elucidating PowerPoint described a vision of A Path to Universal Health Coverage through Transformative Learning in Midwifery. Japan has a very interesting experience to share with Tanzania. Japan has statistics on medical personnel and specific health parameters from the year One of the health parameters is infant mortality per 1000 live births. In 1900 about 160 babies of every thousand were dying before they reached 1 year. Around 1920, there was general increased spike in ill health at the time of the World War I which included a further increase to almost 250 deaths per 1000 births. By 1980 that dramatic rate of loss had decreased to a world wide low of around 3 babies dying for every 1000 babies born. It has remained at about that low rate since then. It is a remarkable success story. Throughout this time period the number of physicians remained the same: 80 per 100,000 population but in 1900 there were fewer nurses than physicians. By 1980 the number of nurses per 100,000 population had increased to 600; the increase of the rate of good health experienced by the Japanese people mirrors the increase of nursing professionals including (midwives, public health nurses, general nurses, and assistant nurses). Professor Sugushita said, It s nurses and midwives who drive health change. They must be agents of change, not just observers. The official collaboration between St. Luke s and officially started in Faculty and student exchanges have been conducted to develop the curriculum, they have jointly conducted seminars and research. As Professor Shigeko Horiuchi pointed out, Japan is far from Dar es Salaam and has very different culture, climate, language, economy, society and medical health welfare system from Tanzania. However, there are also many things in common, particularly our desire for good health for ourselves and our families. A midwife s responsibility is to ensure the health of women, families and newborn children this professional goal is universal. Ambassador Okada noted that this Master s programme is another milestone of substantial exchange and cooperation between Japan and Tanzania. The launching of the program is a dream comes true for many people including Professor Shigeko Horiuchi, Dr. Yoko Shimpuku and School of Nursing faculty who all worked hard to make it happen. Faculty and student exchanges will continue but with added focus and depth as St. Luke s and mutually strengthen each other within this new shared framework.

7 Issue No COMMEMORATES THE WORLD AIDS DAY student putting AIDS symbol on the Guest of Honor Prof. E. Kaaya at the Commemoration of the 2014 World s AIDS Day In commemorating the World AIDS Day at, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya emphasized on the fact that AIDS is still a threat in the country and urged the community to join forces in the efforts to reduce new infections. Prof. Kaaya said that the theme for this year is getting to ZERO, Zero New HIV infection, Zero Stigma and Discrimination and Zero AIDS related Death. He further said that as a health institution, is obliged to come up with innovative and sustainable HIV/AIDS intervention programmes that could curb stigma and discrimination, new HIV infections and AIDS related deaths. The Secretary of TASC Dr. E. Simon welcomes the guest of honor and invited guests to the commemoration of the World AIDS Day 2014 The Vice Chancellor said that approximately 25 million people have died of this disease since the HIV virus was discovered and officially announced in He further stressed that despite many efforts from the scientists community here and around the world; they are yet to get the cure or vaccine for this disease. Prof. Kaaya said that in the

8 8 Issue No. 30 BabaWatoto Theatre performing at the Commemoration of the 2014 World s AIDS Day efforts to protect the community from new infections which may occur as the result of their nature of work in vulnerable places like in the laboratories, the University has tried to improve the working environment in those areas. He further said despite these efforts, it is an individual s responsibility to ensure that each follows all the set procedures so as to reduce the possibility of getting infected as a result of the nature of their work at the University. The Vice Chancellor said that in the student community, the Technical AIDS Sub- Committee is collaborating with other stakeholders in getting more condom vending machines in the students hostels at Muhimbili and Chole Road. The World AIDS Day is a day dedicated to commemorate those who have passed on, to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and to demonstrate support for those living with HIV or AIDS. It is held annually on the 1st December and for many years now has played its part in this global commemoration. In this year s commemoration at, there were many activities which included presentations, poetry, drama, traditional dances, acrobatics and a testimony from a person living with HIV and AIDS and all this were aimed at elaborating this year s theme of Zero New HIV infection, Zero Stigma and Discrimination and Zero AIDS related Death. TO ESTABLISH A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR SCIENCES The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Donan Mmbando speakin at the signing ceremony. With him are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance Dr. Servacius Likwelile and the Resident Representative African Development Bank Tanzania Country Office Ms Tonia Kandiero The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has recently signed a soft loan agreement with the African Development Bank for establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Cardiovascular Sciences (CoECS) under the management of. The Loan Agreement was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance Dr. Servacius Likwelile and the Resident Representative African Development Bank Tanzania Country Office Ms Tonia Kandiero at the Ministry s Offices. The CoECS is part of the East African Centres of Excellence in Skills Development and Tertiary Education in Biomedical Sciences Project that aims at contributing to development

9 Issue No of relevant and highly skilled workforce in biomedical sciences to meet East African Community immediate labour market needs. The project will have two phases: Phase One will support creation of a network of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in Nephrology and Urology in Kenya, Oncology in Uganda, Cardiovascular Sciences (CVS) in Tanzania and Biomedical Engineering and ehealth in Rwanda. Burundi will join in Phase Two in the area of Nutrition. In Tanzania phase one will involve establishment of the Centre s support facilities, that will include: administrative block, seminar and teaching rooms, e-learning centre, educational resource centre (library), a conference Centre, curriculum design and development, training of faculty in areas of selected CVS specialties. During this phase also agreement with world class institutions for collaboration, and development of architectural drawings for the Cardiovascular Teaching Hospital will take place. Phase two will involve establishment of a Cardiac Teaching Hospital. The establishment of phase one of the Centre will cost TZS 16.7 billion, out of it TZS 15.5 billion is a soft loan from ADB while TZS 1.2 will be counter funding from the Tanzanian Government. This Centre of Excellence for Cardiovascular Sciences (CoECS) will be located at Mloganzila Campus in synergy with the Teaching Hospital that is currently under construction. It will perform the core functions of the University that is training of highly skilled human resource, conducting research, and service provision and will train in all aspects of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The signing of Loan Agreement took place on the 12th December, 2014 and other people who attended the event were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Dr. Donan Mmbando, Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya, Director of Planning and Investment Mloganzila Campus Prof. Appolinary Kamuhabwa and Director of Continuing Education and Professional Development Dr. Gideon Kwesigabo. PARTICIPATES IN THE FORUM EXHIBITIONS IN RWANDA The Secretary General of EAC, the Chairman of EABC Honorable and other dignitaries listening to Dr. Pax Masimba explanations of the herbal products produced at ITM at the Academia-Public-Private Partnership Forum and Exhibitions 2014 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences participated in this year s Academia- Public-Private Partnership Forum and Exhibitions with the theme Harnessing East Africa s Innovation Potential. The Forum and Exhibitions 2014 were jointly organized by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA), East African Business Council (EABC) and East African Development Bank (EADB) under the auspices of the East African Community (EAC) and were held in Kigali Rwanda. The Forum aimed at promoting Academia-Public-Private engagement under the auspices of the partnership between IUCEA, EABC and EADB. It focused mainly on generating inputs for enriching the regional research and innovation capacity building programme currently under development. The Forum called for mass private sector investments in education so as to boost innovation on the job market. Speaking at the opening of this Forum, the EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera said that for EAC to achieve its ambitious goals there is a need for the private sector to work closely with universities to invest in research and innovation so that

10 10 Issue No. 30 the Mloganzila land. The Institute of Traditional Medicine (ITM) displayed herbal products and some of the researches conducted at the institute. ITM being mandated to research and promote practices and useful materia medica in the country, has since the year 2004, embarked in standardization of herbal medicine including the Morizella Juice which is dispensed as a nutritional supplement. The Minister of Education of the Republic of Rwanda, Hon. Prof. Silas Lwakabamba presenting a certificate of participation to the PRO Ms. Helen Mtui higher institutions of learning could produce skilled graduates. The exhibitions were held parallel with the Forum to show case the practical aspects of institutions operations, products and achievements as a way of promoting and enhancing academia and private sector partnerships. These exhibitions included higher education institutions, private sector institutions and other stakeholders. In these exhibitions was able to market undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs as well as short courses offered at the University. Furthermore, showed case its priority areas in research for collaboration and market investment opportunities available at especially at Other herbal medicines exhibited were PUMU as an anti-asthma drug; PRUCAN as an anti-benign prostatic Hyperplasia drug; TUMBO mixture as an anti-ulcers; RAVO as an antifungal cream; ALO VERA and MANGIFERA cream which are for skin diseases/care and others. The Academia-Public-Private Partnership Forum and Exhibitions 2014 was held at Kigali Serena Hotel, Rwanda from the 23rd to 24th October, The organizers and participants of the Academia-Public-Private Partnership Forum and Exhibitions 2014 in a group photo with the Minister of Education of the Republic of Rwanda, Hon. Prof. Silas Lwakabamba

11 Issue No SUPPLIER OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL CONFIRMED Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya and General Manager of Samsung C & T Corporation in Korea Mr. Chan Woon Park are shaking hand after signing the contract for supply of medical equipment. has recently signed a contract with a Korean Company for the supply and installation of medical equipment for the University Hospital at Mloganzila. The event took place on the 16th of December, 2014 at where by a General Manager of Samsung C & T Corporation in Korea Mr. Chan Woon Park and Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya signed a contract agreement worth USD 24,600,000 for supply of medical equipment. Speaking at the signing ceremony Mr. Park promised successful implementation of this project which included the whole process of supplying, operating medical equipment that is delivery, inspection, Mr. Park promised successful implementation of this project which included the whole process of supplying, operating medical equipment installation and training together with warranty of medical equipment. The tender for this project was advertised in our local newspaper in September and the bids were opened in November this year. Eligible bidders were companies from the Republic of Korea and through rigorous evaluation of the bids, Samsung C & T Corporation were awarded the tender. The contract is under the Loan Agreement between the Government of United Republic of Tanzania and the Government of South Korea through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for procurement of consultancy services and supply and installation of medical equipment.

12 12 Issue No PRIZES WON BY BEST STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2013/2014 The Vice Chancellor Prof. Kaaya awarding a certificate to student who won an academic prize in the Prize Giving Ceremony for the Academic Year 2013/2014 The Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya awarded 144 various prizes to the best students for the academic year 2013/2014 in the Prize giving Ceremony held recently. Speaking in this Ceremony the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Research and Consultancy Prof. Eligius Lyamuya said that the names of these best students from the School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, School of Nursing, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Institutes of Traditional Medicine and Institute of Allied Health Sciences were passed through very stringent criteria set by the University and approved. He said that for a person to win a prize he/she must attain academic excellence with GPA of 3.5 or above in the programme of study and in the case of individual course he/she must attain a score equivalent to a B+ grade or above. Prof. Lyamuya further said that supplementing students and those who postponed studies in that particular academic year were not eligible for the awards. Out of the total number of 144 prizes won, 98 prizes were awarded to undergraduate and diploma students and 46 were awarded to postgraduate students. The School of Pharmacy had more prizes compared to other Schools/Institutes; it had 29 prizes this year. The DVC-ARC said that for the past two years male students outshined female students in the number of academic prizes won. He said this continue to be the case in academic year 2013/2014 whereby 56% of the undergraduate prizes and 62.5% of the diploma prizes were won by males. The DVC-ARC therefore urged the female students to respond to this challenge. He said all it takes is to believe in yourself and have dedication and pride and never quit. He also urged the male students to work hard as well in order to maintain their position. I believe that such a highly competitive academic environment will create a good breeding ground for innovation, and this is what would like to encourage, he added. For postgraduate students out of the total number of 46 prizes won, 26 were awarded to male students and 20 were awarded to female students. Prof. Lyamuya said that the proportion of the female students who excelled in the academic year 2013/2014 is 43.5% which is higher than in previous years, citing the past three years in which the highest was 33%. As it is the tradition, the prize giving ceremony was held on the eve of this year s Graduation Ceremony on December 5, 2014 at the University Campus.