Z’bar benefits from Yas maternity support

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’S Mwera Pongwe District Hospital, which handles about 300 deliveries each month, has received maternity equipment from Yas Tanzania to strengthen healthcare services for expectant mothers and newborns.

The support, provided through the company’s Tumaini Campaign, includes maternity examination beds, wheelchairs, bedsheets, delivery trays and khangas, aimed at improving the hospital’s working environment and enhancing the quality of maternal and child healthcare services.

The donation is part of Yas Tanzania’s community support initiatives targeting key social services, particularly healthcare, education and other areas that directly benefit communities.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Central Unguja District Commissioner Rajab Ally Rajab said the support would complement government efforts to improve healthcare services, particularly those targeting mothers and children.

He said partnerships between the government and private sector were important in addressing challenges facing healthcare facilities and ensuring that health workers had access to essential equipment.

“We value this partnership because the equipment will directly support the services provided to mothers at our hospital,” he said.

The commissioner also commended Yas Tanzania for extending its community initiatives to Zanzibar, saying such interventions could contribute to improving the quality of services provided at health facilities.

Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the hospital, Dr Pathan Mohamed Pathan, said equipment shortages remained among the challenges facing the facility, which serves a significant number of expectant mothers every month.

He said the newly donated equipment would help health workers provide services in a more conducive environment while improving the experience of mothers seeking care at the facility.

“This support has come at the right time and will greatly help us improve our services,” he said.

Head of Yas Zanzibar, Mohamed Waqid, said the Tumaini Campaign was designed to support healthcare workers and contribute to creating a safer and more conducive environment for expectant mothers and newborns.

He said the initiative reflected Yas Tanzania’s wider commitment to supporting communities in areas where the company operates.

“Through the Tumaini Campaign, we want to contribute to initiatives that have a direct and meaningful impact on people’s lives, particularly in essential services such as healthcare,” he said.

Yas’ telecommunications network currently reaches about 99 per cent of Zanzibar’s population, while the company continues to implement community initiatives aimed at supporting social and economic development.

Mr Waqid said the Tumaini Campaign would continue to reach other parts of Zanzibar, with a focus on supporting maternal and child healthcare services and addressing some of the challenges faced by health facilities.

The initiative is expected to complement ongoing government efforts to improve maternal and newborn healthcare by supporting facilities with equipment needed by health workers in delivering essential services.