Mwanza – A fundraising campaign has been launched to help Dr Avetha Massawe, a dedicated paediatrician at Sekou-Toure Regional Referral Hospital, walk again after she sustained a severe spinal injury and lost her leg in a road accident.
The tragic incident occurred on March 27, 2026, when a Toyota Land Cruiser carrying six doctors overturned in Maremve village, Kwimba District, as they were returning from a specialised medical outreach camp at Icheja Hospital.
According to a police statement issued by the Mwanza Regional Police Commander, the accident happened at approximately 12:30 pm when the driver, Dr James Nkya, attempted to avoid a cyclist who had fallen in the middle of the dusty road. The vehicle veered off the road, hit an embankment, and overturned.
The injured medical professionals included Dr James Nkya (38), Dr Seif Mmka (38), Dr Stanley Makundi (37), Dr Avetha Masawe (35), Dr Mary Urasa (27), and Dr Frank Mgeta (42). While two doctors were treated and discharged, four remained hospitalised at Sekou-Toure and Bugando hospitals.
The devastating outcome for Dr Eveta has triggered a wave of frustration among healthcare professionals, who view the situation as a glaring example of the government’s failure to protect its medical workers.
The need to crowdfund Sh18 million for her specialised medical equipment and intensive physiotherapy has struck a nerve.
“This is absurd, that a health worker, a dedicated paediatrician, has to lose her walking ability due to financial constraints while providing health services,” said one medical practitioner who preferred to remain anonymous. “It’s the same thing: NHIF, WCF, all these are not helping when needed the most.”
NHIF (National Health Insurance Fund) is a government-run health insurance scheme ensuring access to healthcare for its members, while WCF (Workers Compensation Fund) is the country’s social security scheme that compensates employees for occupational injuries, diseases, or death arising from their employment.
The practitioner highlighted a disturbing pattern of inadequate support for injured colleagues.
“We had an emergency physician who sustained an accident, head injury, chest injuries, third-degree foot burn injuries, was intubated, had ICU care and had to stay in the hospital for a couple of days, where we had to contribute money for him to get proper care,” the source added.
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“His care was covered mostly by our contributions; what are insurances when they are needed the most… Sad.”
A plague
This incident is part of a broader, devastating trend of road accidents plaguing the nation. According to the Minister for Home Affairs, Paschal Katambi Patrobass, 1,066 people died in road accidents between July 2025 and April 2026.
While this represents a 16.4 per cent decline from the previous year, the death toll remains alarmingly high.
The first half of 2026 has been marred by several horrific crashes. On February 7, a Maning Nice bus crash in Kilwa District claimed two lives, including an 18-month-old child.
Tragically, a survivor of that crash, Ahmad Ally, died the following day when the ambulance transferring him to Muhimbili National Hospital was involved in another accident.
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More recently, on April 22, a head-on collision between a Yutong passenger bus and a Mitsubishi Fuso cargo truck in Korogwe District left two dead and seven injured.
The government has attributed recent improvements in statistics to intensified road safety enforcement measures, including nationwide patrols.
Authorities report having penalised approximately 3 million drivers for violating road safety regulations, employing measures ranging from fines to the suspension of driving licences.
