Medical teams from the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) have treated 1,200 patients in four days as part of the ongoing 6th East African Community Armed Forces Civil-Military Activities Week in Tanzania.

The medical services are being provided at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital in Tanzania’s Coast Region, where RDF and TPDF medical contingents are working alongside the hospital’s staff to provide healthcare services to communities.

On Sunday, a delegation of eight Defence Liaison Officers from the EAC Secretariat Headquarters in Arusha visited the hospital to assess the ongoing activities. The delegation was led by Brig Gen Matthew Gureme.

During the visit, the officers toured the hospital and observed medical services being jointly delivered by the Rwandan and Tanzanian military medical teams in collaboration with civilian healthcare professionals.

According to figures provided during the visit, 1,200 patients have received treatment at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital over the past four days, highlighting the scale of the joint medical outreach.

The initiative forms part of the 6th EAC Armed Forces Civil-Military Activities Week, which brings together regional armed forces in activities designed to support communities while strengthening cooperation among EAC partner states.

The programme also demonstrates the expanding role of military medical personnel in supporting civilian healthcare services, particularly through regional cooperation that allows personnel and expertise from different EAC armed forces to work alongside national health institutions.