Since 1987, the East Africa Medical Assistance Foundation has been funding medical education and medical equipment for health care in Tanzania. Volunteers have also been directly involved in providing assistance to Tanzanians.
Our major focus is on radiology training and equipment. Because of its technological and equipment-intensive nature, and the lack of resources and training available in the area, radiology has been a critical shortage in the delivery of health care in developing countries such as Tanzania.
EAMAF has directly supported the establishment of two schools of radiology in Moshi Tanzania at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC).
- The East African Medical Assistance Foundation (EAMAF) was formed in 1988 by Dr. Helmut Diefenthal and Eli Ndosi. EAMAF’s purpose of the organization was to improve the radiological services to the people of Tanzania and to base that effort at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) in Moshi, Tanzania. At the time of the founding Tanzania had only three radiologists in the entire country.
- Eli Ndosi was a Tanzanian businessman who had immigrated to the US. He shared Dr. Diefenthal’s desire to help the people of Tanzania, and so was eager to develop EAMAF with Dr. Diefenthal.
- Helmut Diefenthal was a medical missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He had already served from 1956 to 1960 in a clinic in Malaysia and from 1961 to 1965 as the only physician in a sixty bed hospital in Tanzania. After completing a radiology residency, he started the department of radiology at the KCMC. In 1973 he returned to work at the University of Minnesota to assist their four children during their college years. Together with his wife Rotraut, a radiographer, he retired from the University to return to Tanzania In 1989. They stayed there for twenty-five years, serving at KCMC.
- The initial funds for the foundation were supplied by Dr. Diefenthal, friends, and colleagues. The organization continues to promote the work of Dr. Diefenthal as it changes with his retirement. This master plan, and its future iterations, will be managed by EAMAF to define its ongoing efforts and future direction. The foundation will work with Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC) and the radiology department at KCMC to define the needs and the appropriate path forward.
Mission Statement
To improve radiological services and related medical care in East Africa
Vision Statement
Enable local Tanzanians to provide self-sustaining high-quality radiology services accessible to everyone in Tanzania.
Core Values
- To do charitable work for humanity
- To effectively understand the needs and systems of local cultures
- To work in conjunction with government, church, and volunteer organizations
- To utilize and share the combined kills o founders, board, staff, and volunteers
- To continue the commitment and inspiration of the founders
- To expand medical knowledge through training and education
- To use supportive partnerships and teamwork
- To develop sustainable, replicable, and accessible programs for the people of Tanzania and East Africa.