The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Bernard Lugongo
14 November 2009
The World Health Organisation and the European Commission have handed over several facilities to the Government in efforts to improve health services and save lives of thousands of Tanzanians.
The facilities, worth Sh1.3 billion ($985,718), include 14 ambulances, five pick-up trucks, five motorcycles, communication equipment, blood bank and basic delivery equipment.
The grant was presented to the government yesterday through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Speaking at the function, the minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof David Mwakyusa, said the grant comes at a time when the Government was in the process of making concerted efforts to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality.
"The ambulances and equipment received today are of great importance in improving the referral system and ensuring quality emergency obstetric and neonatal care services consequently saving precious lives of thousands of children and women as well as other patients in need," he said.
The WHO country representative, Dr Jean Baptiste Tapko, said the donation was meant to contribute to efforts in implementing better health service delivery to pregnant women and children as stated in the national road map.
The assistance also aimed at strengthening the programme of controlling the onchocerciasis and Neglected Tropical Diseases activities.
It was geared to assist the country achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) number four and five which aim to reduce under age five mortality by two thirds and maternal mortality by three quarters by the year 2015 from the levels of 1999.
The minister said the support from the WHO and the European Commission was an outcome of the memorandum of understanding the Government signed with them in 2006 over an agreement to improve maternal and newborn health and making pregnancy safer programme (MPS).
The European Commission head of Cooperation in Tanzania, Mr Enrico Strampelli, hoped that the assistance would help Tanzania achieve the targeted MDGs.
He said with the facilities provided, the country would improve the health of its people.
Tanzania is among eight countries from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region that benefit from the programme which is now in the second phase.
Other countries are Angola, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Guyana and Haiti.
The facilities granted would be distributed to the districts in Mbeya, Lindi, Kigoma and Kagera regions.
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