THE foundation stone has been officially laid on the new Benjamin William Mkapa Health Plaza by Dr Hussein Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council.
The health plaza is a real estate investment innovation done by Imara Horizon Company (IHC), a sustainability arm of the Benjamin William Mkapa Foundation. The Plaza is located at Kawe along the Mwai Kibaki road, in Dar es Salaam and is expected to be ready for use by the end of this year.
During his opening remarks on Thursday, the Chief Executive Officer of the IHC, Mr Mirza Ngoshani made an official introduction of the company, with its services covering real estate investment in health sector, medical supplies, equipment and consumables, trading and enhancing innovation, training, research and development in health-related matters
Together with Project Consultant from Grachit Consultancy, they highlighted the key amenities found within the Mkapa Plaza, taking the audience through a visual construction journey of the unique project.
“This three-storey building has 3,236 square metres, with 2,680sqm available for rental. We envision this health plaza being a home to health service providers to run polyclinics, as well as offices for corporate firms. We are already receiving rental requests, and I would like to welcome you all to our plaza,” said Mr Ngoshani.
The Benjamin Mkapa Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro extended appreciation to the Board of Trustees of Mkapa Foundation and the late Benjamin Mkapa for approving the idea of establishing the special purpose vehicle for health business functions through IHC.
“Your Excellency Dr Hussein Mwinyi, as our founding first Chair of the Board of BMF for six years and now the successor settlor for the past 2 years, we appreciate your stewardship all along.
“You have guided us effectively on sustainability initiatives of the Mkapa Foundation work, through establishment of the Endowment Fund and the subsidiary company of Imara Horizon Company being able to kick off the Mkapa Health Plaza project. Both of the two products are a result of your visionary leadership to us,” she said.
The event was attended by board members of IHC and the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation. Mr. John Ulanga who is the Chair of the Board of Directors of IHC appreciated the trust and relationship gauged with the other private sector and government in realizing IHC objectives so far.
“We are also aware of the readiness of our two governments of Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, in the development of the private sector in pursuit of economic growth and improvement of social services delivery to our communities. Imara Horizon shall also eye various partnerships with the government and fellow private sector entities in increasing the scope of health service delivery, in a more innovative manner,” remarked Mr Ulanga.
Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel assured the leadership of Mkapa Foundation and the IHC of the government’s readiness for public-private partnerships, in order to reach the goal of universal health for all.
During his keynote speech, Dr Mwinyi honored the prior work and vision of the late Mkapa, in initiating the Mkapa Foundation and insisting on its sustainability.
“It is through his vision of a sustainable and resilient institution that we, the governance board of the Mkapa Foundation, saw the need to start an investment company, the Imara Horizon,” he said.
He praised the outspoken nature of Mzee Mkapa who utilized various national, regional and international platforms to express his desire for a self-reliant Africa. Dr Mwinyi quoted one of Mzee Mkapa’s remarks where he said: “Problems do not vanish through our abilities to categorize them”.
He congratulated the board and management of the Mkapa Foundation for realizing the vision of Mzee Mkapa that has resulted into the birth of the IHC. He urged the team to continue innovating and progressing the two institutions, since there are many challenges in the health sector that need their interventions in both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.