A Tanzanian Catholic nun and medical doctor, Rev. Sr. Dr. Sarah Kahumbya Deogratius, has been named winner of the 2026 Else Kröner Fresenius Award for Medical Development Cooperation.
Sr. Deogratius, Director of Cardinal Rugambwa Hospital in Tanzania, was recognized for her commendable work in strengthening epilepsy diagnosis and care for children with disabilities.
The prestigious award is presented annually by the Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) Foundation in Germany to honour outstanding projects and individuals improving healthcare delivery in resource-limited countries.
Sr. Deogratius, who belongs to the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Catholic Diocese of Bukoba, was nominated for the award by Evangelisches Krankenhaus Alsterdorf (EKA), a German healthcare institution.
She will receive a cash prize of €250,000, approximately $286,975 USD, to further support her work.
A registered practitioner with the Medical Council of Tanganyika, Sr. Deogratius is a medical doctor and public health specialist who has combined her religious vocation with a career in healthcare and medical leadership.
