Mnazi Mmoja Hospital - Zanzibar
By Mwinyi Sadallah
20th January 2013
Zanzibar ministry of Health has halted providing food services at the Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital and Mwembeladu Maternity Hospital for lack of funds, deputy minister for Health Dr Sira Ubwa Mamboya said when responding to a question from Muyuni representative Jaku Hashim Ayoub at the ongoing meeting of the House of Representatives.
Without disclosing the actual amount Treasury pays each month, the minister said some Sh6.6 million a month is needed for its budget on food for the two hospitals.
“Last December the ministry received Sh10 million for fuel, Oxygen gas, cleanliness equipment and doctors’ services… this amount is too little to meet the needs.”
He stated that the situation will compel patients at Mnazi Mmoja and Mwembeladu hospitals to buy their own food requirements, saying the little money received from Treasury would be spent on Oxygen, fuel and doctors’ services.
Mamboya, however, said the ministry would continue offering meals at public hospitals in Unguja and Pemba where the problem of lack of funds had not been experienced. The service would also be maintained for Kidongochekundu Psychiatric Hospital but on single meal because of the same reason of insufficient funds.
Representative Ayoub and Magomeni counterpart Salmin Awadhi Salmin wanted to know why the services were halted while the House has been approving annual budgets, urging the latter to set priorities when spending public funds to ensure the poor get key services like food in hospitals.
Meanwhile, a government statement said Zanzibar First Vice President Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad left for India on Friday for a medical check-up. This is the third time for Hamad to go to India for such treatment since 2010 after the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU). The Vice President is expected back to the isles early next month
In another development, Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein yesterday said the government plans to strengthen the industrial sector so that it can boost government revenue and create jobs.
Opening the seventh meeting of the Zanzibar Business Council (ZBC) held at Bwawani hall, the President said the sector was crucial in speeding up the isles development. The sector contributes 3.9 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The government is creating conducive environment which leads to revamping small scale industries so as to play its role in creating jobs and improving GDP,” noted Dr Shein.
He said the focus is to have reliable electricity and other infrastructure such as roads network ports, airports and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The President expressed optimism that improved infrastructure would provide good environment to investors in different sectors, including fish processing.
SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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