The Government through the Medical Depot (MSD) Iringa Region has handed over medical equipment to the Kifana Health Center in Njombe Town Council in the region worth more than 200 million shillings.

The health center is among the new centers recently built by the government with the aim of bringing services closer to the citizens.

Speaking at the weekend, the MSD Iringa Region Manager Robert Lugembe said the move is in support of the efforts of the government of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan in improving health services.

He said MSD has ensured before the center starts work that its infrastructure is in line with the value of the services that will be provided to the citizens.

“For services to be good, there must be modern equipment and all the necessary medicines and we have ensured that they are available. We have handed over medicines and medical equipment worth more than 200 million shillings and more are coming,” he said.

He said that this step has been achieved due to the existing cooperation between the warehouse and the council leaders where immediately after the completion of the construction all the necessary requirements have been met.

Lugembe, mentioned the medicines and medical equipment as all essential medicines and others, laboratory equipment, surgery, instrument cleaning equipment, delivery beds and special baby warming equipment for newborns.

“Other equipment is CEmONC, an ambulance and morgue equipment,” he said.

For his part, the Chief Medical Officer of the Njombe Town Council, Dr. Jabir Juma, said the construction of the center has cost more than 550 million shillings, which is the council's own funds, the President's funds and the people's efforts.

“The center began construction in 2018 with the support of the people and the leadership of the council and during the visit of the President Dr. Samia here in Njombe he saw this construction and decided to give his own money. 10 million shillings to support it.

Dr. Juma emphasized that, among the modern buildings are a mother and child building, surgery, maternity ward, laboratory and a morgue with a large refrigerator that can store six bodies at a time.

He used the opportunity to thank MSD because the step required the presence of modern medicines and medical equipment and all have been obtained at that time, he advises the people to maintain the infrastructure and service providers to work in accordance with guidelines and ethics.