KILIMANJARO: THE government has disbursed 4bn/- for the construction of a state-of-the-art radiotherapy unit for cancer treatment at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), a referral hospital in the Northern Zone. The funds are part of the 5.2bn/- allocated for the project.
The amount was revealed by the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel, on behalf of Health Minister Jenista Mhagama, during the handover of two ambulances and 10 patient monitors at KCMC.
The initiative aims to enhance the quality of healthcare services provided by the hospital.
“The government is committed to strengthening healthcare services by ensuring the availability of modern equipment to increase efficiency and productivity in serving the citizens,” said Dr Mollel.
KCMC Director Professor Gileard Masenga expressed appreciation for the government’s continued investment in projects that improve healthcare infrastructure.
“The government has invested in constructing a radiotherapy unit for cancer treatment, a project costing 5.2bn/-,” said Prof Masenga.
Meanwhile, in Arusha, maternal and neonatal deaths have decreased from 135 in 2022 to 101 in 2023 across the Northern Zone regions.
This was disclosed in Arusha by Dr Bariki Mchome, Head of the Maternal and Child Health Department at KCMC, during a workshop aimed at reviewing reports, assessing progress and sharing best practices for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
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Dr Mchome attributed the decline to the tireless efforts of healthcare workers serving the community.
“We all know that the government prioritises maternal and neonatal health. To fulfill this vision, President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, through the Maternal and Child Health Unit, has launched medical outreach programmes led by ‘Mama Samia’ doctors.
These programmes train healthcare providers in practical skills for emergency maternal and neonatal care, benefitting regions like Kilimanjaro, Tanga and Arusha in the Northern Zone,” he said.
He urged hospital leaders to use the workshop to identify root causes of maternal and neonatal deaths and develop actionable strategies to address them.
