31bn/- to support construction of Arusha regional referral hospital

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Regional Administrative Secretary of Arusha Adoh Mapunda

 The Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) has agreed to provide 31bn/- to finance construction of the Arusha Regional referral hospital which will be erected at the current premises of Mount Meru Regional Hospital.

 

Speaking to reporters at the start of the week, Arusha Regional Commissioner Felix Ntibenda, said the money is a loan and all procedures to secure it have been completed.

 

“Very soon a pact will be signed between the bank officials and the Regional Administration Secretary (RAS) for the construction to start,” the RC said.

 

Ntibenda said the authorities continue to improve buildings and health service delivery at the hospital ahead of construction of the referral hospital. He cited among other improvements,  introduction of an MSD pharmaceutical depot that is at 95per cent completion and is already preparing to open soon.

 

“It will make access to medical services more affordable and spare the public the high prices at  the private stores,” he said.

 

Regional Administrative  Secretary of Arusha Adoh Mapunda placed the loan signing sometime next week at which point, the bank will announce a tender to find a contractor to build the hospital.

 

He congratulated stakeholders who have contributed to the ongoing renovation at the regional hospital while the regional engineer, Edward Mwabomba, noted that the hospital was built back in 1915 and is considerably depleted.

 

“The hospital was built as barracks to treat casualties of the First World War...the plan is to now build new buildings and demolish the old ones,” he said.

 

He said the new building will consist of eight sites including staff quarters, training, recreation and other amneties like parking lots.

“These buildings will reduce the burden of patients especially women during delivery and reduce deaths during childbirth,” he said noting that the main section will be a five storey building.

 

 On his part, doctor in charge at the hospital Dr Jacklin Urio said the 500-bed hospital serves 1.6 million people a year and that population growth is overwhelming the facility.

 

He said the new referral hospital will have 600 beds, 50 beds will be for intensive care (ICU), the third floor will be for VIPs including national leaders and internationals.