Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Julius Kikwete Cardiac Institute – Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (JKCI-ALMC)*
Advancing Newborn and Pediatric Care in Northern Tanzania
For more than a decade, Dr Swanson and his team of international and local doctors and nurses fully developed and supported the NICU at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), to become the premier neonatal unit in Northern Tanzania. This team became the foundation for ICHA.
Today, we provide compassionate, evidence-based care for premature and critically ill newborns, deliver specialized pediatric services, and mentor the next generation of physicians and nurses.
Every patient we care for, every clinician we mentor, and every lesson we learn helps strengthen child healthcare across Africa.
What We Do
Our multidisciplinary team provides:
- Specialized neonatal care for premature and critically ill newborns.
- Specialty outpatient and inpatient pediatric services for infants, children, and adolescents.
- Clinical education and mentorship for physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals.
Together, these efforts improve care today while preparing healthcare leaders for tomorrow.
A Decade of Growth
When Dr. Steve Swanson arrived in Tanzania in 2013, the neonatal intensive care unit was small, under-equipped, and faced many of the challenges common to hospitals across sub-Saharan Africa. Limited equipment, few clinicians with specialized neonatal training, and frequent staff rotations contributed to high mortality rates among premature and critically ill newborns.
Dr. Swanson and his Tanzanian colleagues have transformed neonatal care by developing practical, evidence-based approaches designed specifically for resource-limited settings. Today, more than 90% of newborns admitted to the NICU—including many extremely premature infants weighing less than 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds)—survive, demonstrating that excellent outcomes are possible with the right training, systems, and teamwork.
Transforming Care Through Teamwork
The remarkable progress achieved at ALMC has been built on people as much as medicine.
Strengthening Nursing Leadership
Experienced neonatal nurses became the foundation of care. Through dedicated mentorship, continuity of staffing, and greater clinical responsibility, nurses developed the expertise needed to care for the smallest and sickest newborns.
Changing the Culture of Care
ICHA is helping strengthen neonatal care in Africa by teaching and modeling a culture where doctors and nurses work together as partners. Through training, mentorship, and shared learning, ICHA demonstrates the value of listening to one another, sharing expertise, and making decisions together.
Developing Pediatric Specialists
Physicians received long-term mentorship that emphasized clinical reasoning, teamwork, and bedside teaching. Several junior doctors have since become pediatric specialists, with others continuing their advanced training.
Partnering with Families
Parents became active members of the healthcare team through Kangaroo Mother Care, feeding, and participation in their baby’s daily care. This family-centered approach has strengthened both trust and clinical outcomes.
Changing the Narrative
The results have challenged long-held assumptions about what is possible in low-resource settings.
Today, the ALMC NICU achieves survival rates exceeding 90% for premature and critically ill newborns, demonstrating that high-quality neonatal care does not depend solely on expensive technology. With committed healthcare professionals, practical innovation, evidence-based medicine, and continuous mentorship, even the most vulnerable babies can survive and thrive.
A research paper published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics detailing the approach and outcomes of the ICHA NICU. Read the article: Every breath counts: Lessons learned in developing a training NICU in Northern Tanzania
A Catalyst for Healthcare Transformation
The work at ALMC has become much more than a successful neonatal intensive care unit.
The experience gained caring for newborns—many requiring 80 to 100 days of intensive treatment—has inspired initiatives that now strengthen child healthcare far beyond a single hospital. It led to the creation of the Tiny Feet Big Steps Neonatology Conferences, the development of the Every Breath Counts neonatal handbook, and the opening of the Arusha Pediatric & Maternal Care Centre (APMC).
These initiatives share a common purpose: transforming practical clinical experience into education, mentorship, and innovation that strengthen healthcare systems across Africa.
By investing in healthcare professionals, sharing knowledge, and developing sustainable models of care, ICHA is helping ensure that more children have the opportunity not only to survive—but to thrive.
*The Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) is now managed by the Julius Kikwete Cardiac Institute(JKCI) and is now being referred to as “JKCI-ALMC”