Health sector staffing set for scale-up
DODOMA: DEPUTY Minister in the President’s Office- Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Ms Zainabu Katimba said yesterday that the government is looking forward to recruiting more health personnel to address the workforce shortage in the health sector as part of its efforts to improve healthcare services across the country.
Ms Katimba was speaking in the National Assembly during the question and answer sessions. She was responding to a supplementary question from special seats MP Christine Ishengoma.
Dr Ishengoma said the government is heavily investing in health infrastructure in Bahi District, which has increased the demand for healthcare staff.
In response, Deputy Minister Katimba said the government continues to issue employment permits regularly to address staffing challenges and will sustain this effort to enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
“So far, the government has constructed over 980 dispensaries, 367 health centres and 129 hospitals across the country,” she said, assuring the House that more staff will be hired in the government’s ongoing effort to improve healthcare nationwide.
In his basic question, MP for Bahi, Mr Keneth Nollo sought to know when the government would begin the construction of a health centre in Mpalanga Ward, Bahi District.
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Ms Katimba explained that Mpalanga Ward comprises three villages such as Mpalanga, Nholi and Chidilo with a combined population of 13,664, according to the 2022 Population and Housing Census.
She added that Mpalanga and Chidilo villages already have dispensaries, while construction of a dispensary in Nholi Village is underway.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, the government allocated 60 million shillings for its completion.
“Currently, referral and emergency surgical services for patients from Mpalanga Ward are provided at Chipanga Health Centre,” she noted.
The deputy minister emphasised that the government will continue to allocate funds in phases to build health centres in strategic wards that meet the required criteria.
