A Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) contingent of 20 medical personnel led by Brig Gen Dr Jean Chrysostome Kagimbana participated in the 6th EAC Armed Forces Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Week, which was officially launched on Wednesday, August 26, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The contingent joined their fellow from Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and the host country, Tanzania.

The CIMIC activities, taking place until September 1, focus on medical services, humanitarian assistance, and the renovation of selected health facilities.

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During the official launch, Lt Gen SH Othman, Chief of Staff at the Tanzania People&039;s Defence Force (TPDF) Headquarters, highlighted the objectives of CIMIC Week, including providing free medical services to local communities and strengthening cooperation, interoperability, and unity among EAC Partner States.

Othman thanked the partner states for their commitment to regional integration and commended the guidance and dedication of the Heads of State and Defence Chiefs in advancing this agenda.

Following the launch, medical contingents were deployed to different locations in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Coast Region, and Zanzibar to provide medical services.

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The RDF medical team, working jointly with the TPDF, provided medical services at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital in Coast Region, about 40 kilometres from Dar es Salaam.

The medical services offered include orthopaedics, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, paediatrics, ENT, audiology, dental care, dermatology, and ophthalmology.

183 patients received treatment on the first day. The hospital&039;s head Dr Amoans Malin welcomed the initiative, noting its positive impact on the community's health and on relations between the military and local communities.

Angelus Polycarp Mwaya, a resident of Mlandizi in Kibaha District, welcomed the services and praised the joint efforts of the RDF and TPDF medical teams.

"The programme strengthens the good relationship between the community and uniformed personnel," he said

Another Mlandizi resident, Ally Joan, said many patients came to seek treatment, including those with serious conditions requiring specialist care.

He described the exercise as a valuable opportunity for people to check their health and welcomed the initiative.