M a r k e t N e w s
Tanzania: State Keen On Improving Health Care Nationwide
Posted on : Wednesday, 7th September 2016
Dodoma — The government said yesterday it is well committed to confront major challenges in the funding and delivery of rural health care, stressing that plans are underway to improve the health sector across the country.
The Deputy Minister of State President Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments), Mr Selemani Jaffo, issued the government position in the National Assembly while responding to a supplementary question by Special Seats legislator Ms Azza Hillal Hamad (CCM).
The lawmaker had enquired for a the government's position regarding the state of health care delivery in Shinyanga Rural District.
"The cost for setting up a district hospital is too high. Construction of the district hospital has taken more than seven years yet the project hasn't been completed. Why has the government failed to consider initiating a special fund for hospitals?" she questioned.
She went on to say, there has only been one hospital in Shinyanga offering health care services. "When will Shinyanga and Kishapu Districts get district hospitals?"
In response, Mr Jaffo admitted that there are challenges in funding and delivery of rural health care but added that: "The government is aware of the growing demand for services and is committed to addressing it by allocating funds."
He explained that construction of a referral hospital in Shinyanga is going on. While the government could not raise the three billion shillings requested last year, the deputy minister said arrangements are being made in a quest to increase revenue collections to finance construction of health care delivery units.
He explained, however, that construction of Shinyanga District Hospital is going on well.
The work, according to Mr Jaffo, includes construction of two wards, Outpatient Department (OPD) building and doctors' consultation rooms which all costs 368m/-.
Source : allafrica.com
