DODOMA: SPECIAL Seats Member of Parliament, Stella Ikupa (CCM), has urged the government to construct dedicated labour rooms for women with disabilities across the country.
Ms Ikupa argued that existing delivery rooms fail to meet the unique needs of women with disabilities, highlighting a gap in inclusive healthcare facilities.
She also sought information on how many hospitals have designated rooms for such women.
In response, Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel, assured Parliament that delivery rooms, including those for women with disabilities, are available at all regional referral hospitals, zonal hospitals, and district hospitals.
These include 28 regional referral hospitals, as well as zonal hospitals like CCBRT, Mtwara, Chato Bugando, KCM Moshi, and META Mbeya. Additionally, 184 district hospitals have similar facilities.
Dr Mollel announced that for the 2024/25 financial year, the government has allocated 21.1bn/- to purchase medical equipment aimed at enhancing maternal services, including those for women with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government-PORALG), Dr Festo Dugange, revealed that 623m/- have been allocated for the construction of the Vunta Health Centre in Same East Constituency.
This follows a supplementary question from Ms Anne Kilango Malecela (CCM) about the delayed construction, which has been pending for four years.
Dr Dugange also addressed Handeni Town MP Reuben Kwagilwa’s (CCM) query regarding the upgrade of Mwajuni Chanika and Hedi Kwamagome dispensaries to health centres.
He confirmed that Hedi Kwamagome Dispensary, serving approximately 15,138 residents and located 17 kilometers from the district hospital, meets the criteria for an upgrade.
In contrast, Mkwajuni Chanika Dispensary, covering seven acres and situated only two kilometers from the Handeni Town Council hospital, does not meet the criteria.
Furthermore, Deputy Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Mr Omar Kipanga, reported that 57,843 students from 2,557 centres benefited from the Primary Education for Out-of-School Children Programme (MEMKWA) last year.
He was responding to Ms Shally Raymond’s (Special Seats-CCM) query about adult education centres.
In her question, the MP asked how many centres are providing adult education in the country and how many adults, including women, are receiving this education.
Mr Kipanga explained that in the Adult Education and Community Development Programme (MUKEJA) in 2023, a total of 97,217 learners benefited from 1,851 centres, among them 39,789 men and 57,428 women.
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“Through the Primary Education for Out-of-School Children Programme (MEMKWA) in 2023, more than 57,843 students benefited from 2,557 centres, including 32,141 boys and 25,702 girls.
“In the Integrated Post-Primary Education (IPPE) programme, 9,368 students benefited from 89 centres, including 5,036 men and 4,332 women,” he explained.
Furthermore, he stated that in the Integrated Education Programme for Youth Out of School (IPOSA), 42,183 youth benefited from 85 centres including 20,195 men and 21,988 women.
Additionally, he said in the alternative secondary education programme, 11,721 students, including 5,529 boys and 6,192 girls, were enrolled in the 2023 academic year.