Zanzibar — WHILE authorities in the Isles have classed Mnazi Mmoja Hospital as referral, some Members of the House say the hospital does not deserve the status because it lacks the qualification.

"It is a shame to name Mnazi Mmoja as a referral hospital without specialists and lacks even some equipment for surgery," Mr Jaku Hashim Ayoub (CCM - Muyuni) and Mr Makame Mshimba Mbarouk (CCM - Kitope) argued.

In response, Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Sira Ubwa Mamboya, maintained that it was proper to call Mnazi Mmoja a referral hospital because it will soon meet the requirements to become one. She said that although the hospital still faces shortage of specialists including pathologists and equipment, the situation does not disqualify it from being a referral hospital.

The debate emerged in the House after Ms Shadya Mohammed Suleiman (CCM - Women) attributed delays of cases of gender based violence (GBV) in courts in Pemba to lack of pathologists. When Mr Salmin Awadhi Salmin asked for details on how serious the problem is in Pemba about stalling of cases due to lack of pathologists, the deputy minister replied that they have not received any complaints.