The impact of an anaesthesia and intensive care collaboration between Sweden and tanzania

Anaesthesia and intensive care is a neglected specialty in low-income countries. Many countries have less than 1 anaesthesia provider per 100,000 population and few hospitals in Africa have the resources for managing critically ill patients. Health partnerships between institutions in high- and low-income countries have been proposed as an effective way to strengthen health systems. This article describes a partnership in anaesthesia and intensive care between institutions in Sweden and Tanzania and its impact at regional and national levels. The partnership, initiated in 2008 on the request of Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, conducts training, exchanges, research, equipment, routines and guidelines projects. Through the newly formed Life Support Foundation, the partnership has expanded to all hospitals in Dar es Salaam, has assisted in the reactivation of the Society of Anaesthesiologists of Tanzania and has seen a marked increase in the number of trainee doctors.