The Minister of Health, Hon. Jenista Mhagama, has commended the Medicines Depot (MSD) for continuing to ensure that it purchases essential equipment needed to help save the lives of premature babies.

Minister Mhagama said this today while handing over special medical equipment to help children with breathing problems, which she handed over to the Regional Chief Medical Officer of Dar Es Salaam Dr. Mohammed Mang'una on behalf of all General Medical Officers in the country.

The 130 medical equipment worth Tsh: 212,854,365/= have been purchased by the Medicines Depot (MSD) in implementation of the directive of the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, so that they can help reduce the deaths of babies born before their due date, i.e. premature babies.

"We should continue to purchase these machines and equipment as the needs of all health care facilities are presented, so that at least each facility has five machines, because if five children are found at once with problems, we can save them, help these children not to lose their lives." The Minister of Health emphasized.

He emphasized that children born before the due date (premature) by 80 percent experience respiratory problems because their lungs and other organs are not mature and lead to loss of life, but they can also quickly get infected with other diseases due to their low immunity.

And the Chairperson of the MSD Board of Trustees, Ms. Rosemary Silaa, told the Minister that currently the Board has a good mix of members who have expertise in all important areas related to the four responsibilities of MSD of production, procurement, storage and distribution of health products.

For his part, the Director of the Medical Depot (MSD), Mavere Tukai, said that all instructions given by the Minister of Health will be implemented, including continuing the construction of drug storage warehouses, improving supply chain systems, as well as continuing the production of health products.