RISING WOMAN 2025: Meet woman behind establishment of Haematology Unit at Muhimbili

When discussing women who have made significant contributions to the healthcare sector, her name cannot be overlooked. This is Dr Stella Rwezaula, the Consultant Haematologist at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) and Lecturer at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Muhas).

She is also the president of the Haemophilia Society of Tanzania (HST) and Project Coordinator (Country Director) for a five-years Hemophilia and Sickle Cell Disease project. The HST aims to raise awareness of these diseases in Tanzania, ensuring patients receive the necessary care and can access diagnosis from wherever they are in the country.

Dr Rwezaula says knowing who she wanted to be from a young age, her career was inspired by her late mother, who was a nurse. She grew up watching her mother provide excellent care to patients, which attracted her to the profession and sparked her interest in following in her mother’s footsteps.

Her contributions to the healthcare sector have earned her both local and international recognition—not only for herself but also for Tanzania as a country. Besides being the first female haematologist, she is also the first doctor to perform a bone marrow transplant in East and Central Africa.

“I had the opportunity to be the first doctor to perform the first Bone marrow transplant in East and Central Africa. It was a significant step and a major milestone for the country, as these services were previously unavailable in the region,” says Dr Rwezaula.

She states that being the first female haematologist in Tanzania is a source of pride for all women in the country and encourages them to strive for higher positions in medicine, science, politics, or any field where they wish to break barriers.

“Currently, we have trained many female haematologists in the country. There are now over 25 of them working in various hospitals.

This demonstrates that when women work hard and believe in themselves, they can achieve their goals,” she says.

Accelerating Her Impact

Commenting on the impact following her pioneering bone marrow transplant in Tanzania, she notes that it opened doors and provided relief to patients with blood cancer and blood disorders, eliminating the need for them to seek treatment abroad.

“It used to cost the government a fortune to send a single patient for treatment abroad. Now, with four to five patients being treated locally for the same cost as sending one patient overseas, this has been a tremendous financial relief,” she explains.

For about 35 years before 2010, Tanzania had only 2 Hematologists, and were all retired. In 2007, Dr Rwezaula and three other students became the first batch of Hematologists trained in Tanzania. As she graduated,she was tasked with establishing the Haematology Unit at MNH,together with her colleagues which was crucial as there had been no dedicated Hematology department in the country.

“The support from the government, MNH management, political will, and global collaborators made it possible for us to establish our unit. We worked to bring in more doctors from various departments to join us, as there was a dire need for these services. Many patients were seeking this specialised care,” she says.

The global collaborators assisted in the training and supported then until when they were able to operate independently.

As the head of the unit, her primary role is to ensure that Tanzania produces more haematologists and that all regional and district hospitals have at least one Hematologist, allowing these essential services to reach even the most rural areas.

Her vision is for MNH to become the centre of excellence in providing quality care.

She hopes that the Haematology Unit will grow into a full-fledged department and eventually an institute, allowing for the continued expansion of highly specialized services such as bone marrow transplants and gene therapy.

Through her dedication to improving quality care, her efforts have led to the establishment of 14 new haemophilia and sickle cell  clinics across the country, supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation(NNF) & Novo Nordisk Hemophilia Foundation (NNHF). Before this initiative, Tanzania had only one such clinic at MNH.

“I feel blessed that God has made me part of this achievement for my country. Personally, it is gratifying to receive recognition through various awards, including the Malkia wa Nguvu Award in 2023 and global accolades such as the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Centenary Scholarship Award and the Visiting Trainee Award from the American Society of Hematology,” says Dr Rwezaula.

As the President of the Hemophilia Society of Tanzania, her role is to lead her team in achieving their vision and mission, which is to improve and ensure care for all bleeding disorder patients in Tanzania.

She states that the society focuses on raising awareness among patients and caregivers, ensuring accessibility to care and diagnosis throughout the country.

“We work to ensure the government includes Hemophilia in the National Strategic Plan for Non-Communicable Diseases, ensuring the availability of diagnostic facilities, medications, and treatment across Tanzania,” says Dr Rwezaula.

Additionally, they are developing a national registry for Hemophilia and sickle cell disease. This data will assist policymakers in improving access to care for Hemophilia patients and enable other East African countries to learn from Tanzania’s progress.

Balancing leadership and personal life

As a woman and a leader, Dr Rwezaula ensures she fulfils her professional and personal commitments while also engaging in social and community activities.

“This is achieved by setting weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. I start my day early, manage clinical duties, teach, fulfil leadership roles, and ensure I adhere to my planned schedule.

This allows me to strike a balance as a lecturer, leader, mother, wife, and several community leader,” she says.

Her leadership style is both charismatic and transformational, encouraging teamwork and ensuring her subordinates take ownership of their projects. She involves everyone in decision-making, which enhances productivity at both the unit and national levels.

Advice to young women

To young girls and women aspiring to shine in their respective fields, she advises them to have confidence, set goals, remain persistent, and trust in God.

“Believing in yourself and staying committed to your dreams will pave the way for success,” she concludes.