Health Program

The Government of Tanzania continues to invest in infrastructure and human capital in order to improve health care access and quality nationwide. MDF believes that a healthy population is a productive and empowered population. We aim to complement the Government’s work by further investing in health care.

Since 2013, the MDF has supported children with cancer through its partnership with Tumaini la Maisha, the largest Childhood Cancer Center in East Africa. In 2013, the survival rate for a child with cancer in Tanzania was 1 in 10. Today, the survival rate has increased sixfold.

More recently, we have been supporting health programs for public eye care and treating children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

We identify and fund additional high-impact health care projects that strengthen the quality and reach of health services.

Stories of Change

Program Activities

Chemotherapy Drugs
The Foundation seeks to improve care for children diagnosed with cancer in Tanzania. We support TLM in ensuring that all children at the Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam and the NCCN centers nationwide receive their chemotherapy drugs free of charge.
Healthcare Systems
With the support of the Mo Dewji Foundation, TLM has been able to implement a comprehensive support system for children on cancer treatments at Muhimbili National Hospital and their partner centers, including drugs, diagnostic tools, and salaries for staff.
School & Play
Beyond medical resources, TLM provides educational and play therapy support programs to children undergoing cancer treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital. The educational program is professionally tailored and delivered to meet the individual needs and abilities of the children.
Nutrition Program
The aim of the nutrition program is to improve digestive health, prevent malnutrition, and provide dietary supplements during treatment. All children on treatment are provided with a nutritional program, which includes nutritional counseling, meal planning, and access to healthy foods and snacks.
Support for Caregivers
TLM supports the parents and caregivers of the children receiving treatment. Through training classes, parents learn different kinds of skills, particularly income-generating skills, which help them think positively about their child’s treatment and provide the opportunity to earn higher incomes.
National Networking
In 2021, TLM officially began the National Children Cancer Network (NCCN) with the goal of having 34 centers across the country offering children cancer treatments in the next five years. The aim is for no child to be more than a 4-hour journey from being able to receive cancer treatment care.
Cataract Care
In 2023, MDF introduced an eye camp in Singida offering free screening and testing of cataracts, free reading glasses, medication, cataract surgery, and other minor surgical procedures.
Support for Spina Bifida
Spina bifida is a condition involving a gap in the spine of a child, caused by improper development of the spine and spinal chord in the womb. MDF works with organizations that treat spina bifida.
Support for Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is the term used to refer to fluid build-up in the brain, which affects the ability of children to communicate and move. We are working to treat and prevent hydrocephalus.

Change & Impact

0 +
Treatment Centers
0 +
Child Patients
0 %
Increase in Care

FAQs

We encourage support from both individuals and organizations collectively.
Our ultimate goal is to provide holistic mobile health care services to communities that have limited or no access to health care services in rural areas. This would be in partnership with the Ministry of Health by extending its services primarily at regional referral centers to all the districts and all the wards in each region of the country.
Yes, we would be excited to receive innovate initiatives and discuss how best we can better serve the underprivileged communities in Tanzania.
Generally we look at past evidence of impact, scale of reach in terms of people, and cost efficiency.