The State of COVID-19 in Tanzania: Experiences from the Bugando Emergency Department

In a joint conference held on June 18, 2020, attending physicians from the Weill Bugando and Weill Cornell Emergency Departments shared their experiences caring for Covid-19 patients in Mwanza, Tanzania, and NYC. 

Drs. Ally Akrabi, Shazmah Suleman, and Erasto Sylvanus of Weill Bugando School of Medicine provided a timeline of Covid-19 in Tanzania and the rapid response the pandemic required. Bugando Medical Center (BMC) launched safety and preparedness measures to protect patients, clinicians, and staff, including rapid screening of patients, handwashing and sanitizing stations, PPE training, and strong case management procedures. In order to effectively isolate patients with suspected COVID-19 disease, BMC has also established a COVID-isolation unit on its campus.

Over the Zoom discussion, Drs. Akrabi, Suleman, and Sylvanus also characterized the common symptoms and presentation they saw amongst their Covid-19 patients, sharing and comparing their experiences with colleagues at Weill Cornell, including Dr. Radhika Sundararajan, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine. Approximately 43% of all Covid-19 patients at BMC were classified as having ‘severe’ disease with oxygen saturation levels below 88%. Patients with mild disease are provided with self-quarantine instructions prior to discharge back to their homes and communities.

Pictured below are snapshots of the joint conference.