Department of Medical Laboratory

Department Leadership

Muhsini Juma Magoma

Head of Department

Qualifications to be updated

Overview

The Department of Medical Laboratory at Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT) supports the Government of Tanzania’s efforts to enhance healthcare services by training professionals in Medical Laboratory Sciences. This field, both an art and science, focuses on investigation and diagnosis, positioning graduates as essential “healthcare detectives.” They utilize advanced biomedical instrumentation, technology, computers, and manual techniques to perform laboratory tests on blood and body fluids, providing critical data for patient diagnosis, treatment, disease monitoring, and prevention. The programme is accredited by the National Council for Technical Education (NACTE) under the National Technical Awards (NTA) system, ensuring alignment with national standards for technical training.

Philosophy

The Department of Medical Laboratory is guided by the belief that access to high-quality health laboratory services is a fundamental human right, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, or socio-economic background. Our philosophy emphasizes:

• The humanitarian nature of medical laboratory practice, requiring compassion, respect, empathy, and adherence to ethical and legal standards.
• The influence of the environment on individuals, families, and communities, necessitating awareness of interaction patterns and their impact on health.
• Education as a continuous process that embraces new technology and community needs to deliver cost-effective services.
• The learner’s responsibility for their own learning and self-development through active participation.
• The importance of collaboration and teamwork in creating an effective training environment.

The programme adopts a modular, semester-based structure to provide flexibility, encouraging graduates to pursue higher qualifications and facilitating recognition of their learning experiences and professional practice.

Programme Objectives

• Provide a progression to higher levels in Medical Laboratory Sciences for career advancement and technical roles in laboratory management.
• Impart basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes relevant to medical laboratory sciences practice for preventive and curative healthcare services.
• Steer creativity and innovativeness to address challenges in medical laboratory practice and healthcare delivery.
• Inculcate a culture of teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in medical laboratory sciences.
• Promote citizenship, accountability, and responsibility among graduates.
• Stimulate lifelong learning behavior to advance the medical laboratory sciences profession.
• Provide an international outlook to widen learners’ opportunities in regional and international labor markets.

Academic Programmes

The Department of Medical Laboratory offers a range of programmes designed to produce innovative and competent laboratory personnel, equipped to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.