Poland in Tanzania

On Sunday, 19 October 2025, the Head of Mission in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Sergiusz Wolski, took part in the official handover ceremony of the Butiama Safe House - a shelter designed to provide a safe haven for girls aged 6–17 escaping female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence. The facility was built with Polish funding as part of the “Nyumba Salama” project. The initiative also aims to provide young women with access to basic and vocational education, healthcare, health education, and psychological support, offering them the chance for a safer and better future.

Mr. Wolski also attended the reopening ceremony of the Kiabakari Health Centre, modernized under the “Health 2.0” project implemented by the Kiabakari Foundation in cooperation with the Kiabakari parish and Rev. Wojciech Kościelniak, and funded by Polish Aid. After 17 years, the centre will once again begin operations, providing the residents of Butiama District with access to essential healthcare services.

Another project carried out in Kiabakari between 2024 and 2025 under Polish development cooperation (Polish aid) was “STOP Diabetes and Vision Loss in Tanzania”, implemented by the Okuliści dla Afryki (Ophthalmologists for Africa) Foundation. The project took place at the Tazama na Tabasamu Ophthalmic and Dental Clinic in Kiabakari and at St. Pio Hospital in Maganzo (Geita Region). Its goal was to improve the quality of medical services related to the treatment and prevention of diabetes, hypertension, and eye diseases. As part of the initiative, approximately 200 cataract surgeries were performed, and over 50 teachers and parents received training on the prevention of lifestyle diseases. The Ophthalmologists for Africa Foundation has been active in Tanzania for 10 years, conducting 34 medical missions to date, while the Tazama Clinic provides ophthalmic care to around 1,500 patients annually.

The Head of Mission’s visit to the Mara Region in northern Tanzania was an important step in strengthening development cooperation between Poland and Tanzania — a partnership grounded in solidarity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to sustainable development.