Our project unfolds in three pivotal phases: Collaboration, Education & Infrastructure Creation
Phase 1: Collaboration (completed)
Laying the Groundwork
In early 2025, we hosted the first-ever EMS training conference in northern Tanzania, successfully training over 20 nurses and physicians in prehospital trauma, airway management, ultrasound, and mass casualty response. The event catalyzed national interest and paved the way for system-level reform.
The greatest success of Phase 1 was securing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by all private ambulance providers in Arusha. This MOU includes:
Shared use of a centralized dispatch system
Standardized equipment and training
Agreement on minimum care standards
Unified pricing model and collaborative funding strategy
Phase 2: Education (underway)
Central Dispatch System & Training Rollout
This phase focuses on two foundational pillars of the EMS system:
Centralized EMS Dispatch System
The dispatch system will be the first of its kind in the region, using Ambulensi software to enable real-time GPS tracking and centralized coordination of all ambulance services. It will be staffed around the clock by trained Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs), operating from a designated facility expected to launch in mid-2025. This system will also provide the backbone for regional disaster response and high-volume events such as the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Nationally Standardized EMD/EMT Training:
In tandem, we are rolling out a standardized national training program in collaboration with Muhimbili University and the Tanzanian Ministry of Health. The EMD/Paramedic Academy will blend classroom learning, hands-on skills and collaborative in-situ simulation with our newly trained EMDs. These efforts will ensure a skilled, credentialed workforce providing consistent, high-quality prehospital care.
Phase 3: Infrastructure Creation (future)
EMS Training Academy and Simulation Center
This final phase will build the infrastructure to power the system into the future:
SQF Ambulance Service:
We will deploy a fully equipped model ambulance service operated in partnership with SQF Health. This unit will provide high-quality emergency care, serve as a training platform for new providers, and demonstrate what a standardized, modern EMS response looks like in Tanzania.
SQF EMS Headquarters:
A permanent SQF EMS headquarters will be established in Arusha—including a dispatch center, Tanzania's first medical simulation lab, classrooms, and space to host regional training. This hub will also create long-term revenue through hosted training, simulation courses, and system-wide coordination.
