Dear Sr. Dr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius, congratulations on receiving the Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Development Cooperation in Medicine 2026. 
You are a medical doctor and the Hospital Director of the Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The hospital's rehabilitation unit is an important resource center for children with disabilities.
What does your typical workday look like?

Sr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius: My day starts quite early. I wake up around 5:00 a.m. for morning prayer, and at 6:30 a.m. I attend Mass. By 7:30 a.m., I am at the hospital for the morning report with our staff. After that, every day is a little different. I may see patients, visit the rehabilitation unit, meet with staff or attend to management matters. As Hospital Director and a doctor, I have to balance clinical and administrative responsibilities. Some days are very busy, and sometimes the work continues into the weekend.

What motivated you to improve care for children with disabilities in Tanzania?

Sr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius: What touched me most was seeing how many children with disabilities and their families suffer quietly. Some experience stigma, some feel neglected, and others do not know where to go for help. I have met parents who were afraid even to talk about their child’s condition. I felt that we could not just watch this happen. These children need the same love, care and opportunities as every other child. That is why this work is very close to my heart. I always say, disability is not inability.

What are the plans for your future work?

Sr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius: There is still a lot that I would like us to do. I want to strengthen our rehabilitation services and reach more children, especially those who cannot easily come to the hospital. We need to continue training our staff and working with families and communities to reduce stigma. I would also like us to give more attention to the mental health and wellbeing of mothers and caregivers because caring for a child with a disability can be very demanding. My hope is to make inclusion part of everything we do.

The award is endowed with 250,000 euros. What will you use the award money for?

Sr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius: This award gives us an opportunity to do things that we have wanted to do for a long time. We want to expand our rehabilitation services, improve our ability to diagnose children, train more healthcare workers and strengthen community outreach. Many children with disabilities are still at home because their families cannot easily reach specialized services. We want to reach those children too. We also want to improve follow-up and support for families so that care does not end when a child leaves the hospital.

Thank you very much!