Else Kröner Center for Advanced Medical & Medical Humanitarian Studies Würzburg – Mwanza, Tanzania

Opening of the Else Kröner Center (Photo: Franziska Pietsch)

The tradition of the partnership Würzburg - Mwanza goes back to the 1960s. Starting from a town twinning, the cooperation between different institutions at both locations has steadily expanded.

Today, it encompasses hospitals, universities and the city administration and extends to numerous areas. It includes research projects, exchange programs and cooperation in clinical training. Beyond the city limits of Mwanza, a program has been implemented to combat schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that affects more than 70% of the people living on Lake Victoria.

Synergy Effects for Long-Term Strategic Development

Until the establishment of the Else Kröner Center, bilateral activities depended on individual commitment and short-term external funding. In order to leverage synergies between the various initiatives and enable long-term strategic development, the Else Kröner Center for Advanced Medical & Medical Humanitarian Studies was launched in summer 2020. The center brings together the University of Würzburg, the University Hospital, the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association and medMissio in Würzburg, as well as the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences and the Bugando Medical Center in Mwanza.

Expansion of Activities

The Else Kröner Center not only consolidates ongoing activities, but also expands existing efforts. Additions include a structured exchange program at various levels, a bilateral study program, joint research projects and the improvement of medical care in hospitals and communities. By combining these approaches with improved education and training of young academics and clinicians, as well as professional management, the Else Kröner Center will have a long-term positive effect on medical care in Mwanza and the Lake Zone as a whole. The Else Kröner Center is funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation.