Newsletter issue 24 2013

MUHAS

MUHAS

Issue No. 24

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MUHIMBILI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES ISSN 0856 - 9991

Editorial Team

Prof.F. Kahabuka, Dr. M. Mwangu, Hellen Mtui

July - September, 2013

Issue No. 25

The Prime Minister Hon. Mizengo Peter Pinda (3rd Right) speaking with residents of Kwembe and Mloganzila. Seated from right is the Dar es Salaam Region Commissioner Hon. Mecksedek Sadik, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare Hon. Dr. Seif Rashid, the Minister of Education and Vocational Training Hon. Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, the the Coast Region Commissioner Hon. Mwantumu Mahiza and MUHAS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya

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THE PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO MLOGANZILA .........................................

he Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania Hon. Mizengo Peter Pinda visited the University land at Mloganzila on 16th August, 2013 in order to familiarize himself with the

place and also to know the progress that has been made and the challenges encountered by the University in developing the land into a University Campus.

In this visit, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the Minister of Education and Vocational Training Hon. Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa, the Minister of Land, Housing

MUHAS Vision is to become a centre of excellence for training of health professionals, quality research and public service, located in a spacious area with a state of the art university hospital, conducive learning environment and sustainable resource generation

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Issue No. 24

and Human Settlements Development Hon. Prof.

Anna Tibaijuka, the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare Hon. Dr. Seif Rashid, the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Hon. Said Meck Sadiki and the the Coast Regional Commissioner Hon. Mwantumu Mahiza.

Also present were the Kinondoni and Kisarawe Districts Commissioners, the Chief Executive Director of TANROAD, the Chief Executive Director of TANESCO, Representative from the Ministry of Water and other Officers from Dar es Salaam and Coastal Regions.

Speaking in a meeting with residents of Kwembe and Mloganzila whose properties were yet to be compensated, the Prime Minister said that, the funds needed for compensation has already been budgeted in the financial year 2013/2014.

On the issue of land compensations, the Prime Minister explained that originally this land belonged to the former Tanganyika Packers and therefore according to the existing laws the people who were occupying that land are invaders and are not entitled to land compensation.

The Prime Minister also thanked the residents for understanding the importance of this project for this country. He explained that, the hospital

that is planned to be built at Mloganzila will be the best hospital in the country with modern medical equipment.

The development of Mloganzila land into a Teaching Hospital and a University campus is urgently needed in this country. It will enable MUHAS to produce the required human resources for health and provide diagnostic and therapeutic services that are currently not available in the country.

In this visit, the University Management presented to

the Prime Minister the Master Plan of the areas designated for construction of various University Campus buildings and the Medical Center.

Furthermore, the Minister for Education and Vocational Training presented the progress report for the construction of MUHAS Medical Centre and other academic facilities for the University New Campus.

He explained that, the funds and the consultant for the construction of the hospital are in place and at the moment the process of obtaining a building contractor is ongoing.

The Minister of Land, Housing and Human Settlements Development Hon. Prof. Anna Tibaijuka, MUHAS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya and MUHAS Director of Planning and Development Mloganzila Campus showing the Prime Minister the Master Plan of the area.

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owever, Dr. Kawambwa reported that the current challenge in constructing the 600 beds hospital as planned is the increment of construction cost due to the delay in commencement of the project. He further added that, the current

consultant’s cost estimate for the construction of the hospital is USD 61,960,000 but the available budget is USD 43,920,000 hence a shortfall of USD 18,040,000. Therefore, he requested the government to assist in obtaining the remaining funds for the project to be implemented as planned.

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The Prime Minister said that, this project is very important to the nation and therefore it is important to be implemented as planned. He further added that, the requested amount will be presented to the President for discussion and hence obtaining the government commitment.

The University Management requested for acceleration of this process so as to avoid further increment of construction cost and hence further project delay.

The Prime Minister also received progress report from the representatives of the Ministries responsible for infrastructure development in the project area. The Chief Executive of TANROAD reported that, the road construction is in the mobilization stage. The contractor has started to mobilize machines and other equipments for construction and the work will commence soon.

Furthermore, the representative from Ministry of Water presented the progress report of water supply project at Mloganzila.

He said that, the required water equipment and accessories have already been purchased and the contractor who is to lay water pipes from the water pumping station to Mloganzila has already been procured. He said that connection of water is awaiting the road design to be completed.

In regards to supply of electricity in that area, the representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals said that, the electrical power supply is in the process and connectivity is awaiting the road design.

At the end of the tour the MUHAS Vice Chancellor Prof.

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Ephata Kaaya thanked the Prime Minister for availing his time to visit Mloganzila land. He also requested the Prime Minister to assist in obtaining the remaining amount of money in order to fully complete the hospital construction.

In closing, the Prime Minister thanked the MUHAS management for the tour and said that he now has a better understanding of the area and the project in general. He further said that, though we are facing many challenges especially limited budget, but the government will try its best to ensure that this project is implemented as planned.

The Prime Minister listening to progress reports on the development of the Mloganzila project.

A section of MUHAS and Government Officials listening to the Prime Minister addressing residents of Kwembe and Mloganzila.

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Issue No. 24

ITM RECEIVES DELEGATE VISIT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Vice Chancellor of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Prof EE Kaaya speaking to Dr. Stephen Soo Taek Rhee, the Director, UNIDO ITPO Korea and Ms. Yun Jung Choi (Jace), National Expert UNIDO ITPO Korea during Committee of Deans and Directors meeting

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he Director of United Nations Industrial Development Organization - Investment and Technology Promotion Office, Seoul, Korea, (UNIDO ITPO Korea); Dr. Stephen Soo Taek Rhee visited the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences on 15th to 16th July, 2013.

The Director was accompanied by Ms. Yun Jung Choi (Jace) National Expert UNIDO ITPO Korea; Ms. Soo Jin Jeon, who works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responsible for Africa, Mr. Song Hyo Soon and Mr. Lee Dong Hyun who are the leading CEOs of Ecoenergy and Osang group companies of Korea, respectively.

The aim of the visit was to identify potential areas of technical cooperation between African countries & Korean Private Sectors in Traditional Medicine (TM) development.

The delegates had an opportunity to hold a joint meeting with the University Committee

UNIDO-ITPO Korea delegates exploring Institute’s production facilities and products produced at the institute.

of Deans and Directors (CDD) who discussed possible areas of collaboration between the two countries.

Speaking at the CDD meeting, the Director of ITM, Dr Ester Innocent highlighted that, the Institute is mandated to promote traditional medicine in the country. The Institute performs all the three pillars of the university;

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teaching, research and service. Currently through R&D activities the institute has developed eleven herbal formulations which are dispensed to people with BPH, asthma, ulcers, malaria, skin problems and poor nutrition.

The Director for Planning and Development, Mloganzala campus Prof. A. Kamuhabwa highlighted the potentials at MUHAS, including a spacious land for expanding its services. He further elaborated that at Mloganzila, there will be infrastructure for teaching, research, service, investment and leisure. A medicinal botanical garden will be developed for research and conservation

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purposes.

Furthermore, Dr. Stephen Soo Taek Rhee informed members of the MUHAS Committee of Deans and Directors that, UNIDO- ITPO Korea would like to facilitate the engagement of the two nations to set a model in promoting traditional medicine pharmaceutical industries in the country.

The delegates had an opportunity to visit ITM experimental farm and solar drier plant in Kongowe - Kibaha and had a site visit to Mloganzala where the new MUHAS campus will be established. The delegates also had a laboratory tour to see facilities available for research and production of herbal medicine at the Institute.

Initially the Vice Chancellor, Prof EE Kaaya elaborated on a long history of the Institute of Traditional Medicine collaboration with UNIDO since way back in 1977. The objective was to get data on available medicinal plants and facilities which could enable setting up a pharmaceutical industry in the country to produce herbal medicines.

UNIDO-ITPO Korea delega

tes exploring production fa Institute’s cilities and pr oducts produc institute. ed at the

From left to righ t: department at The Head manager in medic inal plant National Instit ute of Horticu Herbal Sciences lture and Dr. Chung Bum from UNIDO-I Park; Mr. Bun-J TPO Korea; D oon Kim r. Ester Innoce ITM-MUHAS) nt (Director, and Prof. Zaka ria H drector, ITM) du ring a tour in th . Mbwambo (Former e Herbarium.

Now with the renewed interest on the same, between 11-16th, March, 2013, ITM members had an exploratory visit to some public universities and research institutions working on traditional medicine/natural products in Korea. The aim of this eyeopening trip was to learn how Korean Public institutions are excelling in research and development of traditional medicine/natural products. The other aim was to introduce the Institute’s activities to Korean partners who have interest to collaborate in expanding its production capacity of various herbal products for mutual benefit.

The ITM delegates had an opportunity to visit five Korean public institutions namely; Seoul National University, Gyeoggi Natural product Research Unit, Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Sciences and the headquarter of Rural Development Administration (RDA).

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Issue No. 24

THE 8th WIN AND LEARN ANNUAL ACADEMIC EVENT

The Guest of Honor Prof. E. Kaaya, MUHAS Vice Chancellor awarding one of the winners during the event. With him is Prof. B.S Lembariti (right), the patron and Dr R. Kazema (2nd right), the convener of the judges.

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in and Learn is a University event initiated and implemented by students themselves through their academic associations affiliated to the University namely TAMSA, TAPSA, TEHSA, TDSA TAMELASA & UNSATA. This is an annual event at the University with the aim of recognizing, valuing and promoting the works done by students from different health fields during their study at the Universities/Colleges. It creates a forum for an inquisitive learning and exchange of health information/ ideas among students from different health fields.

This year, it was the 8th win and learn

event since it started and was held at MUHAS on 15th June 2013 with a theme “Learning with the Purpose to Handle the Challenges in the Health Sector�. The event was preceded by two training sessions that aimed at imparting knowledge to the prospective event contestants on information that is significant for themselves as health professionals as well as equipping them for participation during the event.

There were a total of thirty nine contestants in all the five competing categories which were research, poster, pictorial and simulation, influential health information and school recognition. There were ten judges and Dr. R Kazema was the convener of the jury panel.

Winners in each category were awarded certificate, books and cash as a motivation.

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he event was officially opened by the Director General of Medical Stores Department (MSD) Mr. Cosmas Mwaifani who was very impressed with wonderful presentations from students.

He pledged to offer a full support to the coming events.

The Win and Learn event apart from its several achievements in the previous years, this year the event managed to involve participants from outside Dar es salaam as per its long term goals. The event this year had participants from KCMUCo, Kilimanjaro.

The MUHAS Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya officially closed this year’s event and also awarded prizes to the winners of different categories. In his closing remarks the Vice Chancellor promised to continue supporting the event yearly.

The Steering Committee of this event under the chairmanship of Mr. Simon Mushi and their patron Prof B.S Lembariti appreciates the cooperation from MUHAS management for partial sponsorship and hosting the event.

Apart from all achievements that win and learn has had through the years; it also faces few challenges especially in

The judge’s at work during the 8th Win and Learn event

minimal financial support and small number of participation from undergraduate and postgraduate students. Although the number of participation is increasing yearly, it is still not promising enough.

It is important for students to understand that the name “Win and Learn” comes as platform for achieving the goal of sensitizing students to undertake learning seriously, inquisitively and focused while anticipating in winning. But winning is only small part of the event, it is projected that the primary motivating objective should be gathering students from their different disciplines with different academic objectives for a common goal of solving the nation’s health problems.

A group photo with the guest of honor during the 2013 Win and Learn Academic Event.

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Issue No. 24

ITM CONDUCTS TRAINING ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT

Group photo of participants of the first training on traditional medicine development for Traditional Health Practitioners  (THP)

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he Institute of Traditional Medicine of the Muhimbili University Health and Allied Sciences organized a highly successful training that was held at Lecture Hall 3 at MUHAS, Tanzania, from 02nd to -06th September, 2013. The training was organized by the Institute in collaboration with the Traditional and Alternative Medicine unit of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The aim of this training was to facilitate the improvement of knowledge, skills and practice in traditional medicine to the participants. The participants were specifically expected to acquire knowledge and skills in: sustainable conservation of medicinal plants; improved hygienic practice of traditional medicine; enhanced awareness on policy, ethics and legal framework on indigenous knowledge.

Other areas of training included; improved awareness on the importance of record keeping in traditional medicine practice; good practice in processing and packaging of herbal products; basic knowledge

on human anatomy and physiology, common infectious and non-infectious diseases and on safety and efficacy of traditional medicine.

Participants of the short course were 55 either as traditional healers, herbal medicine sellers or professional personnel in the governmental sections that deal with traditional medicine research, development and promotion. They were from 11 regions in 16 districts of Tanzania including Ilala, Kinondoni, Temeke, Bagamoyo, Mkuranga, Mbeya Mjini, Morogoro, Hai, Dodoma, Kasulu, Tunduma, Kilombero,Nyamagana, Ilemela, Bunda and Zanzibar.

Traditional Health Practitioners (THP) during hands on sessions of training good practices for herbal materials processing

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While giving a welcome remark to the opening of the training, the Director of the Institute of Traditional Medicine, Dr. Ester Innocent said, the training was preceded by gathering information from different stakeholders including associations of traditional healers and government institutions who identified priority areas of concern required for improved traditional medicine services in the country.

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ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AT THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY MUHAS

It was interesting to note that, most topics suggested were under herbal medicine development, which is currently one of the world’s prime research areas for discovery of new pharmaceuticals. The ITM already engages itself in formulation of standardized herbal medicines but the demand is high, surpassing the production capacity of the Institute’s R&D laboratory.

In view of such needs, and in response to the University directives, the Institute developed a curriculum for a “Short Course in Traditional Medicine Development”.

Speaking during the opening session, the guest of honour, Prof Eligius Lyamuya, the Deputy Vice ChancellorAcademic, Research and Consultancy at MUHAS, urged participants to recognize and value their contribution in primary health care and that they should be keen to the knowledge they will receive for improved health service provision.

Dr. Ahadiel Raphael Senkoro, Assistant Director for Curative services in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare officiated the closing ceremony by urging participants to use effectively the knowledge gained and be catalyst of change in the communities they serve and abide to ethics of professionalism according to the government rules.

Zablon, a PhD candidate isolating DNA from a potentially infectious sample in a biosafety cabinet

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olecular techniques play a major role in interventions against the major poverty-related diseases including HIV, Malaria and TB for improving disease control. Through assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the University (by then MUCHS) in 1997 established a molecular biology laboratory, introducing molecular biology techniques in the control of drug resistant tuberculosis in the country.

The basic infrastructure for DNA extraction and different DNA manipulation for analysis of mutations associated with resistant TB strains was set. Further equipment in the lab was provided by the generous support from the University through Seeding Labs, US. Multiple drug resistance (MDR) which is TB infection caused by organisms resistant to two of the commonly used drugs namely isoniazid and rifampicin. Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB on the other hand is TB that is resistant to isoniazid

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The treatment of MDR is extremely difficult, and of XDR almost impossible in limited resource countries like Tanzania. Early detection of MDR and XDR is without doubt very valuable; however, conventional tests take 4-6 weeks. The main focus of the molecular lab at MUHAS is therefore to use molecular techniques to detect and diagnose MDR. To further these goals, through the one health approach, the lab is partnering with the SACIDS, a one health consortium of southern Africa medical veterinary academic and research institutions involved in infectious diseases of humans and animals in the democratic republic of Congo, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa.

Results from our lab and others would be useful to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) through the National TB

and Leprosy Program (NTLP) in the management and control of TB in the country, and contribute to the regional and global surveillance of drugresistant TB. As part of the ongoing and future activities, the lab has expanded research in TB by looking at cross-transmission of TB between humans and animals (both livestock and wildlife), where in collaboration with the department of Microbiology and Immunology at MUHAS, two researchers; a post doctoral researcher and PhD candidate are working on this project. The idea is to establish a pattern of circulating TB strains in humans and animals.

Molecular Biology Laboratory is under the MUHAS department of Biochemistry. At the moment the department is also collaborating with the department of Haematology and Blood transfusion at MUHAS, to establish capacity to use PCR for screening, diagnosis and followup of patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and thalassemia. Further we are establishing capacity to carry out cell culture research at MUHAS.

SCREENING FOR NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PROJECT BY MUHIMBILI ROTARACT CLUB

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uhimbili Rotaract Club at MUHAS started in June 2012.

The club is mothered by Rotary Club Dar-Mzizima. Its main objective is to promote responsible citizenship and leadership potential in young men and women aged 18 to 30 in the Muhimbili community and in the neighbour-hood. The programs of the club are built around the motto; “fellowship through service.”

Rotaractors taking Random Blood Glucose

Muhimbili Rotaract club conducted a project on screening for non-communicable diseases at Muhimbili University. The diseases that were basically screened for were; diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

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Rotaractors measuring Blood Pressure

Besides, oral health screening and sensitization were done in collaboration with the Tanzania Dental Students Association (TDSA). There was also blood donation which was done in collaboration with Muhimbili University Blood Donation Club and National Blood Transfusion Services.

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he main objective of this project was to address the burden of non-communicable diseases in our community at an individual level. The event was sponsored by: Rotary Club Dar-es-salaam Mzizima, K-Scientific Suppliers, Muhimbili National Hospital, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dr. Mohamed/Accu-Check, DTV and Clouds FM. A total of 221 respondents from the Muhimbili community and different parts of Dar-es-salaam showed up for sreening.

The participants were of different age groups stretching from 1 year to 83 years.

More than one third (35.3%) of the

participants were either overweight (18.6%) or obese (16.7%); poor oral health was observed in 23.4% of the participants; fourteen percent (14%) of the participants had high blood pressure suggestive of hypertension; and 2.7% participants were suspected of being diabetic.

Eighteen units of blood were donated.

Every participant was counseled and advised on the desired life sytle for a healthier living in accordance to his/her health status as per screening findings. Some of those found with health problems were referred to appropriate facilities and professionals for receiving appropriate health care after the screening.

This was the second project of the Club after visiting the children living with cancer at Muhimbili National Hospital that was done on 1/12/2012. The club is planning to be screening people for non-communicable diseases annually.

The club conveys its sincere gratitude to all the sponsors for their valuable contributions towards the success of the event.

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Issue No. 24

Undergraduate Students Orientation Week in Pictures

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Ephata Kaaya addressing first year students

MUHAS first year students following Vice Chancellor’s speech

The guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the sport bonanza Hon. Iddi Hassan Zungu (MP) addressing the MUHAS Community

The Dean of Student Dr. D. Kakoko speaking during the sport bonanza

First year students during eating apple competition

Tug of war competition between first year students and MUHAS staff