MTWARA.

DEPUTY Minister of Health, Dr. Godwin Mollel, said he is satisfied with the changes being made by the Medicines Department (MSD), especially in the performance and implementation of contracts for the procurement of medicines and medical equipment in the country.

Dr. Mollel said this yesterday in Mtwara region during a working visit accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. John Jingu, when they visited the offices of the Medicines Department in the Mtwara Region, to see for themselves the state of service delivery and the challenge of warehouse shortages facing the region.

Speaking to employees of the Region, Dr. Mollel said he is satisfied with the changes being made by MSD, especially in the performance and implementation of strategies for the procurement of medicines and medical equipment in the country.

He added that the Government's decision to provide MSD with capital is a matter of pride, as it will help ensure that MSD implements its strategic plans, including the construction of warehouses and ensuring that medicines and medical equipment are available throughout the country.

After visiting the regional offices, the leadership also visited the Mikindani area in Mtwara Region, which is located opposite the southern regional referral hospital, where a new warehouse for the Mtwara Regional Drug Depot is being built and saw how the construction process of the warehouse is progressing.

Dr. Mollel used the opportunity of the visit to congratulate the MSD Mtwara employees for their efforts and dedication in serving the citizens despite the challenge of the small size of the existing warehouse.

And the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Jingu, urged the employees not to be discouraged and to continue working hard as the government continues to work on the challenges facing them, including the problem of warehouse shortages, which is leading to the construction of a new and modern warehouse.

He added that their visit to the region is to demonstrate that they recognize the existing challenge, so in collaboration with other leaders they continue to work on the challenge, in order to find a solution.

For his part, MSD Director General, Mavere Tukai, said the institution, through its strategic plan, is in the process of improving services and operations, including the construction of warehouses in different regions of the country.

He said the move will expand MSD's scope and capacity in fully serving its customers, as it will increase MSD's ability to store sufficient products for customers and reduce high operating costs.

Mavere has mentioned the regions that will be reached by the warehouse improvements as including Mtwara, Mwanza, Kagera and Dodoma to begin with and later look at other regions in need.