This project was initiated, funded and launched by World Doctors (Senior Project Manager Dr. Tanja Nienstedt) working alongside the local NGO JUWAZA (Zanzibar Association of Retirees and Elders), by mobilizing existing resources within the indigenous healthcare system, by working together with traditional local healers— with the aim of reaching out to as many patients as possible.

Introduction and project content:

Data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2024 shows that 1 in 9 adults—amounting to 589 million people aged 20–79—live with diabetes. Projections estimate this total will reach 853 by 2050, increased by 45 % with over 81% of affected adults living in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes caused 3,4 million deaths in 2024 alone—equivalent to one death every six seconds.

Not only do individuals with diabetes have a threefold risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but roughly one in three will also suffer from some degree of vision loss during their lifetime.

Kidney failure occurs 10 times more often in people with diabetes than in people without diabetes.

A lower limb is amputated every 30 seconds due to diabetes worldwide, a loss deeply felt under any conditions, yet catastrophic in a society already facing limited health and social resources.

Projections indicate that by 2050, the total number of people living with diabetes in Africa will increase by 142%, reaching 60 million.

Tanzania / Zanzibar

Tanzania and Zanzibar face some of the highest rates of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. Along with South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is one of the five countries hardest hit by the disease and its complications.

Developing novel prevention and screening methods remains a critical priority.

The WHO estimates that 80% of people in sub-Saharan Africa depend primarily on traditional medicine. This widespread reliance is due to both deep cultural roots and the high accessibility of traditional practitioners.

The World Health Organization recognizes the decisive role of traditional healers in disease prevention, including safe motherhood. The preservation of natural resources—including assets for traditional medicine—was established under Millennium Development Goal 7. To assess the feasibility of the pilot project, the University of Berlin launched a baseline study titled 'Bridging Gaps in Health Care and Healing: Traditional Medicine and the Biomedical Health Sector in Zanzibar.'  This initiative brought together anthropologists, traditional healers, medical staff, and the Ministry of Health to evaluate potential outcomes.

Project area: 

Urban West, Zanzibar

Population: 893,169 /Current pilot area: 225,000 

Project duration: 3 years (planned)

General objective:

Improve the treatment of diabetes and hypertension in Zanzibar. Promote cooperation between traditional healers and physicians. Train community leaders (Sheha), the general population, and schools on hypertension, diabetes, and their complications. Conduct toxicity testing of traditional remedies. Strengthen home-based care provided by traditional healers to patients with diabetes/hypertension complications.

This project has successfully trained 50 traditional healers, enabling them to screen for blood pressure and glucose levels while raising community awareness about chronic diseases. Furthermore, these healers are now qualified to complete medical records and manage formal patient referrals to hospital physicians.

Our community awareness initiative addresses diabetes, hypertension complications, and project goals. Supported by trained community leaders (Shehas), educational activities have commenced in five pilot schools, with plans underway to expand to further institutions.

In close partnership with the Ministry of Education, we expanded our reach by distributing short educational videos directly to the population through WhatsApp. Moreover, this initiative has enabled the Ministry to directly update traditional healers on critical health concerns, such as the recent Ebola outbreak.

To ensure the project runs smoothly, we manage coordination and monitoring through four key approaches:

1.   Institutional Alignment: we maintain regular meetings with the Ministry of Health and submit progress reports according to international standards.

2.   Field Support: our team conducts routine visits to traditional healers to quickly resolve practical problems.

3.   Digitalization: we equipped pilot healers with tablets and a digital system to simplify data collection and hospital referrals.

4.   Community-Led Implementation: our entire field and evaluation team consists of local community members who bring direct, trusted expertise

Updated: August 2026

Video 

Pressrelease 2025

The construction of 4 maternity wards in Tanzania were the first projects of our association. In cooperation with the association CUAMM Medici con l'Africa, which has implemented and manages the projects in Africa, the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and the Diocese of Dar Es Salaam, we were able to finance the construction of 4 of the 11 Safe Motherhood Units. An important part of the project was training and seminars for local staff on "Safe Childbirth". The maternity wards are located in Yombo, Msimbasi, Kibiti and Luguruni.

In cooperation with the Allamano Center, the Trentino South Tyrol region and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, we financed a broad-based AIDS program in Iringa. Through control and prevention measures, the spread of AIDS is contained, HIV tests are carried out, HIV carriers receive antiretroviral treatment and terminal patients are cared for at home. With the support of the Happy Banking campaign of Südtiroler Sparkasse, we made it possible for the orphans registered in the project to attend school and receive medical care.

In Matembwe, in the south-east of the country, we used private donations to finance the construction of a water pipeline with a clarifier and water pumps for a village of 6,000 inhabitants.