Muhimbili pediatric unit gets major boost

LETSHEGO Holdings Limited has donated medical equipment worth 50m/- to the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH)’s PediatricUnit.

The donation includes six cardiac monitors, 20 digital blood pressure (BP) machines, 18 weight scales and 10 Infra-Red thermometers which were handed over by the Letshego Group’s Chairman Phillip Odera, during a handover ceremony held at the MNH premises.

Mr Odera said the donation is part of their institution’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the country as well as in other countries, where they are operating.

According to the Mr Odera, their institution feels very proud to be involved in supporting the health sector, especially a special unit for children’s treatment.

He explained that Letshego’s activities include improving people’s lives through loans as part of their programme of giving back to the communities.

He noted that the big meaning of the word, Letshego, in Botswana’s Setwana vernacular is support, which has impelled them to fulfil their social responsibility by giving back to the community.

“The health sector is one of the biggest pillars of social welfare and that the donation is to help the next generation that will develop various sectors,” said Mr Odera.

He explained that Letshego is proud to invest in the country and in other countries in Africa and they are doing well in the financial sector and thus raising the income of the community.

“This support is our responsibility in the community which is our customers in our daily activities. The community has a great need for treatment, to which our institution has given a priority. To begin with, we have decided to donate medical equipment to the Pediatric unit,” he said.

“We have a group-wide initiative focused on assisting government to address the gap in primary healthcare and funding socially sustainable enterprises at community level,” he noted.

On his part, the Executive Director of Muhimbili National Hospital, Prof Mohamed Janabi said that the support is very important for their hospital which treats about 2000 patients a day.

Professor Janabi said that the Muhimbili hospital is one of the largest hospitals in East African countries and has expanded the scope of treatment at the moment.

“It is a great help and needs a great compliment as well. We need these materials as they are necessary for many treatments. I congratulate Letshego Holding for helping and we ask them to continue helping us,” said Professor Janabi.

Dar es Salaam Regional Chief Medical Officer, DrRadhidMfaume commended Letshego Holding company for the support and asked them to continue to do so as they are helping Tanzanians.

“This is now a convergence that I pray continues. An institution or company that supports medical devices has the goal of creating a healthy society. I am asking Letshego to continue this support,” said Dr Mfaume.