President Samia Suluhu Hassan has appointed Dr. Delilah Kimambo as the new Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), succeeding Professor Mohammed Janabi, who is now the Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organization.
Dr. Kimambo, recognized as one of Tanzania’s top cardiologists, was appointed to the role on Monday, June 16, 2025. She follows in the footsteps of Dr. Marina Njelekela, who was the first woman to lead MNH.
Before this appointment, Dr. Kimambo served as the Director of Clinical Support Services at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), where she has been practicing since the institute’s inauguration in 2015.
Her extensive experience in cardiology is marked by her use of advanced technologies to deliver effective patient care in Tanzania. From 2016 to 2022, she also held the vital role of Tender Board Chairperson at JKCI, where she oversaw the tendering process, ensuring its smoothness and success.
Dr. Kimambo takes the helm at a crucial time when MNH’s transformation has made considerable strides, enhancing its capacity as a public referral institution. However, the high cost of treatment at the hospital continues to be a major challenge for the majority of citizens who rely on public healthcare.
MNH’s own website acknowledges this issue, stating that its Social Welfare Department supports approximately 12,000 vulnerable patients annually. In the fiscal year 2022/23 alone, the hospital spent 19 billion Tanzanian Shillings (approximately $7.6 million USD) on their treatment, with an average cost of $634 per supported patient. This substantial expenditure shows the significant financial burden treatment poses for many who cannot afford the full cost.
The new executive director is now expected to steer the country’s largest referral hospital, with a total bed capacity of 2,043 for both Muhimbili National Hospital (including both the main campus and Mloganzila, with plans for redevelopment to increase its bed capacity) to expand its services. A prominent figure in the medical community, Dr. Kimambo is expected to lead the hospital’s transformation.
Experience and prominence
Dr. Kimambo’s prominence in the medical community is undeniable. She recently served as the Conference Coordinator for Cardio Tan 2025, held in Zanzibar on April 12-13, 2025, an event aimed at fostering collaboration among African medical professionals to advance cardiac care through shared research and experiences. She strongly advocates for a holistic approach to cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing collaboration across government, academia, industry, and civil society.
Since 2016, she has served as a Medical Specialist I at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), where she attends to both outpatients and inpatients in general wards, surgical ICUs, and CCUs. She also provides cardiac consultations for patients within Muhimbili National Hospital and Muhimbili Orthopedic Institute. Her responsibilities include conducting continuous medical education sessions and supervising and interpreting echocardiography images.
International experience
From November 2011 to May 2012, she worked as a Medical Doctor in the Department of Cardiology at Christian Medical Centre – Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, as part of her Master of Science in Cardiology training. During this time, she utilized a wide range of techniques and equipment to diagnose heart and blood vessel disorders, participated in patient treatments and follow-ups in the CCU and outpatient clinics, and applied critical thinking skills in emergency situations. She also participated in seminars and conferences to stay updated in the cardiology field.
Earlier, from March to September 2011, she served as a Medical Doctor in the Department of Cardiology at Haukeland University Hospital – Bergen, Norway, also as part of her Master of Science in Cardiology training. Her work there involved using diverse techniques and equipment for diagnosing cardiac conditions, participating in patient follow-ups in the Cardiac ICU, inpatients, and outpatients, and assisting in cardiac catheterization laboratories, electrophysiology laboratories, and pacemaker implantation procedures. She also demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills in crucial decision-making during emergencies.
Before her extensive work at JKCI, Dr. Kimambo was a Medical Specialist II in the Cardiovascular Medicine Department at Muhimbili National Hospital from May 2013 to April 2016, before being transferred to JKCI. Her career began as a Medical Officer I and Regional HIV Program Focal Person for the Clinton Foundation at Ligula Regional Hospital-Mtwara from December 2004 to April 2012, before her transfer to Muhimbili National Hospital.
She also gained significant experience during her training, serving in the Department of Internal Medicine at Muhimbili National Hospital as part of her Master of Science in Cardiology training (October 2010 – March 2011 & May 2012) and her Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) education (October 2007-2010). Her career started as an Intern Doctor at Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, in 2003-2004.
Research
Dr. Kimambo’s research contributions are substantial, focusing on cardiovascular health, particularly in resource-limited settings. Her work includes studies on the feasibility of point-of-care cardiac ultrasound in Tanzania and strategies for establishing sustainable cardiac care in public teaching hospitals in low-resource nations. She has also authored publications on topics such as task shifting for rheumatic heart disease screening and has investigated the prevalence of Group A β-Hemolytic Streptococci in rheumatic heart disease patients. Her diverse expertise is further highlighted by her earlier case report on osteosarcoma metastasizing to the heart.
With an academic affiliation at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), her research has also covered areas like electrocardiographic patterns and cardiovascular risk factors among university students. Additionally, she has been instrumental in training initiatives, including providing basic life support for Zanzibar’s hospitality industry in partnership with the CardioTan platform.
With her extensive clinical, administrative, and research background, Dr. Kimambo is exceptionally well-positioned to lead Muhimbili National Hospital into its next phase of transformation and address the critical challenges it faces.
