The Medical Depot (MSD) through the Dodoma Zone today handed over surgical equipment to Itigi District Hospital, located in Singida region, worth a total of 210 million shillings.

Receiving the equipment, Manyoni District Commissioner Dr. Vincent Mashinji said the government's intention to purchase the equipment is to ensure that health services are provided at acceptable levels, and reduce preventable deaths especially for mothers and children during childbirth.

The District Commissioner explained that after the hospital buildings were completed, they decided to purchase the necessary equipment so that they can begin serving the citizens, as before the arrival of the equipment, citizens had to travel long distances to obtain surgical services.

Similarly, Hon. Mashinji noted that with the arrival of the medical equipment, the government has removed the burden of high costs from the citizens of Itigi, as they were previously spending a lot of money to obtain surgical services from private hospitals, so it is clear that these services are going to be provided at a cheaper cost at the hospital.

In another step, Dr. Mashinji has urged professionals who use the equipment to ensure that they maintain and use them properly so that they last, as it is clear that the government has provided a lot of money to finance them.

For his part, the MSD Dodoma Regional Manager, Mwanashehe Jumaa, has explained that they received 300 million shillings for the hospital's equipment, and they have handed over equipment worth 210 million shillings today and the remaining equipment will be handed over soon.

Ms. Jumaa has noted that among the equipment include a sleep machine, oxygen machines, a washing machine, a refrigerator for storing medicines, operating room lights, operating beds and equipment for storing newborn babies.

And the citizens of Itigi District, on different occasions have thanked the government for building a District Hospital for them and bringing them medical equipment, as it has relieved them of the heavy burden of expensive health services, which had burdened them.