4.5bn/- for maternity wards in Dar hospitals

GOOD News to mothers- -Amson Group of Companies and Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner (RC) Paul Makonda are facilitating construction of a three-storey maternity wards in the region’s three referral hospitals.

The move will help to reduce congestion of mothers at Muhimbili National Hospital as well as reduce deaths of mothers and children. However, the construction of the three maternity wards will mitigate shortage of hospitals needed in the region as a result of increased population.

Addressing members of the public and health personnel at Temeke Hospital in Dar es Salam yesterday, the Vice- President, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan said currently the region needs 30 hospitals, urging the private sector to invest in health sector, especially in hospitals.

“Due to an increase of population in this commercial city, we need over 30 hospitals in the coming 10 years, I appreciate efforts taken by our municipalities to counter the shortage, but the private sector can also help as it has done in other development campaign programs,” she said.

Ms Suluhu said Dar es Salaam population increases at 5.6 per cent annually, necessitating the improvement of health services. She said the low number of hospitals led to congestion in hospitals and consequently poor services, especially in maternity wards.

“Current statistics show that 432 mothers die each year while giving birth, with 80 per cent of the cases attributed to long distance from the health centres, lack of medical equipments and lack of emergency services to expected mothers,” she noted with concern.

The 4.5bn/- three-storey buildings for Mwananyamala, Amana and Temeke hospitals are expected to be completed by the next 12 months, with the capacity to accommodate over 150 beds and reduce the problem of pregnant mothers sharing beds.

Earlier at Mwananyamala hospital, the Deputy Minister for Health, Social Development, Gender, Elders and Children, Dr Hamis Kigwangala vowed to sustain efforts to curb mother and child deaths in the country.

“We will work day and night to ensure that the deaths of mothers and children are reduced, mother’s death during childbirth are unacceptable,” said the Deputy Minister.

Minister of State in President Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance) Angela Kairuki asked the health personnel to work hard, promising the government commitment to motivate them as attractive buildings without services are useless.