The 6th East African Community (EAC) Armed Forces Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Week has officially begun in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, bringing together military medical personnel from EAC Partner States to provide healthcare services to local communities.
The event is taking place from August 26 to September 1, 2026, with a focus on medical services, humanitarian assistance and the renovation of selected health facilities.
Rwanda Participates With 20 Medical Personnel
The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) is participating in the exercise with a contingent of 20 medical personnel led by Brig Gen Dr Jean Chrysostome Kagimbana.
The Rwandan medical team joined contingents from Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda and Tanzania, the host country.
The participation is part of regional efforts to strengthen cooperation among the armed forces of EAC Partner States while using military medical expertise to support communities.
CIMIC Week Officially Launched in Dar es Salaam
The official launch ceremony was held at the TPDF Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lt Gen SH Othman, Chief of Staff at the Tanzania People’s Defence Force Headquarters, explained that one of the main objectives of CIMIC Week is to provide free medical services to local communities.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation, interoperability and unity among EAC Partner States.
Lt Gen Othman thanked the participating countries for their commitment to regional integration and commended the Heads of State and Defence Chiefs for their continued support of the regional cooperation agenda.
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Medical Teams Deployed Across Tanzania
Following the official launch, the participating medical contingents were deployed to different locations across Tanzania, including Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Coast Region and Zanzibar.
The RDF medical team worked together with the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital in Coast Region, approximately 40 kilometres from Dar es Salaam.
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Wide Range of Medical Services Provided
The joint RDF and TPDF medical team provided a wide range of specialized and general medical services.
The services included orthopaedics, general surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, paediatrics, ear, nose and throat (ENT), audiology, dental care, dermatology and ophthalmology.
On the first day alone, 183 patients received medical treatment.
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Hospital Management Welcomes the Initiative
The Head of Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Amoans Malin, welcomed the initiative and said it would have a positive impact on the health of people in the surrounding communities.
He also highlighted the importance of the exercise in strengthening relations between military personnel and the communities they serve.
Residents Praise the Joint Medical Exercise
Local residents also welcomed the free medical services.
Angelus Polycarp Mwaya, a resident of Mlandizi in Kibaha District, praised the cooperation between the RDF and TPDF medical teams.
He said: “The programme strengthens the good relationship between the community and uniformed personnel.”
Another resident, Ally Joan, also from Mlandizi, said many people had come to seek treatment, including patients suffering from serious conditions requiring specialized medical attention.
He described the exercise as a valuable opportunity for people to have their health checked and expressed appreciation for the initiative.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation Through Health Services
The 6th EAC Armed Forces CIMIC Week demonstrates how military cooperation can also contribute to humanitarian and community development activities.
Through the provision of free medical services and other forms of assistance, participating armed forces are supporting local communities while strengthening regional cooperation, military interoperability and relations between security institutions and civilians.
