Improving health and quality of life for older people
HeART — Health and Ageing Research for Tanzania — is a five-year international research project uniting experts from Tanzania and Denmark, funded by Danida with DKK 10 million.
Older people are an overlooked group
More people in Tanzania are living longer, but the healthcare system has not kept pace with this trend. Many older people live with chronic illnesses and reduced functional ability without access to the treatment they need — particularly in rural areas, where health services are limited.
The HeART project aims to help change this. Researchers and healthcare professionals from Tanzania and Denmark share the goal of improving health and quality of life for older citizens — through new knowledge, stronger capacity and better access to care.
The project is funded by Danida with DKK 10 million and hosted by the University of Southern Denmark in collaboration with Tanzanian research and healthcare institutions.
Mission, vision and values
Our Mission
To improve health and quality of life among older people in Tanzania through new knowledge, stronger capacity in the healthcare system and better access to care — with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
Our Vision
A healthcare system that keeps pace with longer lives — where older people receive respectful, timely care no matter where they live.
Our Values
Dignity in older age, equity for overlooked groups, rigorous research and honest collaboration between Tanzania and Denmark.
Research, skills, access and data
The project combines research, education and local engagement — from new evidence to tangible improvements in everyday life.
Research
Explore how older people experience ageing, illness and interactions with the healthcare system.
Analyse
Examine how poverty, gender, disability and stigma affect older people's health and increase vulnerability.
Strengthen
Training in geriatrics and academic exchange between Tanzania and Denmark build lasting capacity.
Reach
Home visits in vulnerable rural areas and the HeART database bring care and evidence to those most in need.
A Tanzania–Denmark partnership
University of Southern Denmark
Host institutionDept. of Geriatric Medicine G, Odense University Hospital
Clinical partnerUniversity of Dodoma
Partner universityMuhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Partner universityDanida
Funding · DKK 10 millionTanzanian & Danish researchers and healthcare professionals
The HeART teamProject leadership
Led from Tanzania and Denmark — bringing together researchers and healthcare professionals across the two countries.
Dorthe Susanne Nielsen
Principal Investigator (PI)Professor of Vulnerability · Dept. of Clinical Research, SDU & Odense University Hospital · Research Centre COPe
Leads the HeART project overall. Her research focuses on vulnerability, intercultural nursing, ageing and everyday life with chronic illness — combining qualitative and quantitative methods to develop practice-oriented care for vulnerable patients.
Professor Stephen Kibusi
Co-Principal Investigator · TanzaniaProfessor of Public Health · University of Dodoma
Co-leads the HeART partnership from Tanzania. Professor of Public Health at the University of Dodoma and member of the COPe research centre at SDU, working on health systems, public health and care for older people.
Dr Khadija Malima
Project LeadershipChief Research Officer for Health · Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH) · Former Dean, School of Nursing, MUHAS
Brings leadership in nursing research, epidemiology and research coordination. Former Dean of the School of Nursing at MUHAS, she now coordinates quality health research in national priority areas at COSTECH.
Dr Dicksom Mkoka
Project Leadership · Co-InvestigatorSenior Lecturer · School of Nursing, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS)
Senior Lecturer and former Dean in the School of Nursing at MUHAS. His work spans critical care, emergency care, advanced nursing practice and health system governance — and he serves as co-investigator on the HeART project.
Siri Aas Smedemark
Postdoc · Project LeadershipPostdoc · Dept. of Regional Health Research, SDU & Lillebælt Hospital, Kolding
Postdoctoral researcher in geriatrics and acute care of older adults. Her research covers in-home assessment, point-of-care ultrasound, frailty and sarcopenia — supporting HeART's research and capacity-building activities.
Explore the project in detail
See the methods, timeline and expected outcomes — or get in touch if you would like to work with the project.