Tanzania: Zanzibar Residents Asked to Contribute to Health Services

Ambassador Seif Iddi

BY ISSA YUSSUF, 15 SEPTEMBER 2012

Zanzibar — THE Zanzibar government has called on the people to freely continue contributing to health services in support of the ongoing government initiatives to improve the sector.

The call was made by the Zanzibar Second Vice- President, Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, during his tour to inspect health services in public health centres on Unguja Islands."The government has been working hard to make sure that its people get standard health services in the islands, but people's contribution by paying for some specific services is still important," Ambassador Iddi said.


Iddi said that if patients are asked to pay for some medical services, they should show readiness to express their support for the government.During the first week of inspection, the second vice-president visited Mikungunzi (Kwamtipura), Fuoni, Jambiani, and Makunduchi public health centres, saying there had been noticeable achievement.

"We have to do more to improve hospitals," he said.The 2nd VP said that some centres like Mikunguni had non-utilized bed facilities, and advised the Ministry of health to use the centre as substitute in minimizing the congestions at the Mnazi Mmoja main hospital.Iddi thanked the health staffs in public hospitals for hard working, as he promised that the government spared no efforts in overcoming challenges including shortage of facilities, skilled staffs, and brain drain in the health sector.

The second VP was informed that shortage of skilled labour, medicines, and equipment remains a drawback in delivering better health services.The Ministry of Health Principal Secretary, Dr Saleh Mohamed Jidawi, told the vice-president that despite challenges of shortage of health staffs and equipments, the current evenly distributed more than 140 health centres can be easily be accessed by all residents in the islands.

Source: Daily News