Support health sector, PM calls at Moshi

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has called upon the public to support the health sector when he launched a campaign aimed at raising 1bn/- for the construction of a health centre, which will provide full service on Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care in the country.

During the launching in which the premier was represented by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr Saidi Mecki Sadiki at the celebration of White Ribbon Alliance Day. Mr Sadiki said the cost would also include construction of the buildings, purchases of medical supplies and the training of workers.

He added that at the time there were 171 cases which was equivalent to 25 per cent. The government, however, intended to reduce the effects by 50 per cent, thus calling for the public, institutions and other stakeholders to contribute in the campaign to help reduce maternal mortality rate in the country.

“The World Bank in collaboration with government planned to improve 100 health centres to provide Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care in a bid to stop the problems facing the groups,” he said. Regardless of the efforts made by the government to increase centres providing health care they would add more, he said.

Mr Sadiki said they therefore would have to be more diligent and call for support of the private sector and religious organisations to continue to support the government in bringing health services closer to the public. He advised the ministry to set friendly ways during the campaign like using mobile phones, phone lottery or fundraising, for attracting more citizens to contribute.

On behalf of the Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender and Children, Ms Ummy Mwalimu, Assistant Director of Maternal and Child Health from the Ministry of Healthy, Dr Koheleth Winani, said to help reduce maternal rate, stakeholders should cooperate with the government since deaths do not show significant changes from the year 2004/2005 to 2015/2016.

He said 2004/05 there were 578 deaths per 100,000 births compared to 2015/16 where there were 556 deaths per 100,000 births. Meantime, SDGs goal by 2030 needed to be decreased to 70 deaths.

There was need to increase the zeal and knowledge for achievement of the goals. The ministry would continue to improve services to reproductive health by emphasising the correct use of contraceptive methods to avoid early pregnancies that contribute significantly to increasing the number of maternal deaths, he said.

White Ribbon Alliance National Coordinator, Ms Rose Mlay, said it was disclosed that once a pregnant woman gets the basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care, rescuing the life of the baby. We therefore need to invest in the matter.

“In every health centre that women went for delivery, there must be enough health workers, conducive infrastructure, medical devices, medicine, electricity and water 24 hours,” said Mlay.