DAR ES SALAAM: THE Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) has signed a consortium agreement worth 50bn/- with two construction companies to build a new College of Medicine at its Mloganzila campus.
The construction, which will be undertaken by Mohamed Builders Limited and the Chinese company Hainan International Limited, includes the development of lecture halls with a capacity to accommodate 1,400 students, an administration building with offices for 450 users, and a library and ICT building that can accommodate 550 users at once.
In addition to these facilities, the new College of Medicine will feature a laboratory complex with 21 laboratories, a student dormitory with space for 320 students, a cafeteria for 550 users, a football ground and connecting roads for the entire infrastructure.
Speaking at an event in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, Ubungo District Commissioner (DC) Hassan Bomboko urged the contractors to ensure the project is completed on time and meets the agreed standards.
“This project, part of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) initiative, is a critical component of the government’s efforts to strengthen the healthcare sector in Tanzania,” Bomboko said.
He added that while there are numerous sectors that could have benefited from these funds, the decision was made to invest in healthcare, demonstrating President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s commitment to improving the sector.
“The government’s reforms have significantly improved access to specialised and super-specialised medical services, reducing the need for Tanzanians to seek treatment abroad,” Bomboko said.
The government’s investment in healthcare infrastructure is a priority outlined in the ruling party CCM’s Election Manifesto, the Third Five-Year Development Plan (FYDP III) for 2021/22-2025/26, and the Development Vision 2025.
The FYDP III identifies healthcare as a key driver of human development, emphasising the importance of infrastructure, medical professionals, equipment, supplies, and health insurance.
Among the key goals of the FYDP III is to strengthen health management systems, improve service delivery, and address challenges related to the quality of healthcare services.
The plan also prioritises the construction and rehabilitation of inclusive health facilities, ensuring the availability of essential medical supplies and equipment, expanding health insurance coverage and enhancing specialised services in national referral hospitals.
The DC’s comments were echoed by the Chairman of the MUHAS University Council, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, who emphasised the importance of ensuring value for money in the execution of the project.
Deputy Coordinator for the HEET project, Dr Nathanael Sirili, provided an overview of the project, explaining that it is divided into two major phases.
The first phase, valued at 23.4bn/-, involves the construction of an administration building, a library, ICT facilities, and additional infrastructure, including a football field and pedestrian walkways.
The second phase, worth 26.7bn/-, will focus on building lecture halls, laboratories, student hostels, and the cafeteria.
Dr Sirili said that the completion of the College of Medicine at the Mloganzila campus will significantly help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country and expand MUHAS’ capacity.
The project officially began in June 2021 and is expected to be completed by July 2026.
