Tanzania hits heights in safe blood banking as it completes new centers in Njombe,Kigoma regions
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzanian government has continued to strengthen the country’s safe blood services infrastructure through the construction of new blood transfusion centers and the procurement of modern medical equipment, a move aimed at improving specialized healthcare services and expanding access to safe blood for citizens.
Minister of Health Mohamed Mchengerwa said that safe blood centers in the Njombe and Kigoma regions have been completed and are expected to enhance the capacity for blood collection, processing, and storage in line with the growing demands of the healthcare sector. He added that construction of additional centers is ongoing in the regions of Tanga, Manyara, and Rukwa.
Mchengerwa further stated that the government has launched the construction of seven new safe blood centers in the regions of Songwe, Ruvuma, Katavi, Singida, Shinyanga, Mara, and Geita. According to the minister, the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to bring essential health services closer to communities and improve access to safe blood across the country.
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Alongside the infrastructure investments, the government has procured modern blood-processing machines, apheresis equipment, and other advanced medical devices worth more than TZS 2.05 billion to strengthen the operational capacity of blood transfusion centers nationwide. Mchengerwa noted that the investment will improve service efficiency and help meet the increasing demand for healthcare services.
“Every shilling invested in safe blood services is an investment directly in the lives of our citizens. By improving the quality of these services, we are also strengthening public confidence in the healthcare system,” Mchengerwa said.
He emphasized that the government will continue to ensure that all blood center construction projects are completed on schedule and that the facilities begin operating at standards capable of meeting both current and future healthcare needs across the country.
