IN a bid to bring heart treatment services closer to the citizens, the government, through the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) has opened a fourth branch in Dar es Salaam.

The other centres are JKCI-Upanga, JKCI-Dar Group, JKCI-Kawe (Mkapa Health Plaza), and JKCI-Oysterbay Plaza, all located in Dar es Salaam Region.

Dr. Peter Kisenge, JKCI Executive Director disclosed this over the weekend when speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam during the opening of the JKCI-Oysterbay Plaza branch.

He said the institution has been reaching out to citizens in different locations, including rural areas, to offer specialised heart disease diagnosis and treatment services.

He mentioned that the JKCI-Oysterbay Plaza branch began offering specialised heart services last weekend, with the aim of providing opportunities for citizens to access services in various locations and reduce congestion at the main institution in Upanga.

“We have been reaching out to citizens in different regions to provide services, and now we have decided to open more branches of the Institute. This is also part of bringing services closer to the people. Here today, we are giving local residents the opportunity to receive services nearby, while also providing an opportunity for those coming from far away, in order to reduce congestion at the main centre,” Dr. Kisenge said.

Dr. Kisenge, who is also a heart disease specialist, stated that JKCI continues to reach different groups of people to offer heart disease screening and treatment, encouraging everyone to make heart health a priority and to regularly check their health.

“We have been reaching various groups of people to conduct heart disease screenings. During this year-end period, we are offering services to artists and athletes every Saturday and Sunday at our Kawe clinic. We have already provided this service to journalists in the past, and we plan to reach out to them again,” he said.

He urged artists and athletes to continue participating in heart   screening tests, emphasising that prevention is better than cure, and early detection would allow for timely treatment and recovery.

Among the citizens who visited the new branch, one person, who wished to remain anonymous, said that having healthcare services closer to the community motivates people to visit hospitals and undergo health screening tests, thereby reducing the misuse of medication.

“Often, when we experience symptoms like pain, headaches, colds, coughs, or chest discomfort, we go to a pharmacy to buy medicine without being checked, but if we have a hospital nearby, it will help us to first get a diagnosis and advice from a doctor before buying medication,” they said.

The manager of the JKCI-Oyster Plaza clinic, Nyanjura Nyaruga, said the clinic has seen a great response from people seeking heart disease screening and treatment.

Nyaruga, who is also a Cardiac Nurse Specialist, explained that the clinic offers services such as heart clinics, vascular clinics, pediatric heart disease clinics, laboratory services, physiotherapy for heart patients, and emergency services.

“Citizens should not hesitate to visit our clinic because we are committed to deliver  quality services, and we will be providing services 24 hours a day,” said Nyaruga.