ZANZIBAR has attained commendable achievements in the health sector, including reducing maternal and infant mortality, the Second Vice- President, Ambassador Mr Seif Ali Iddi, said while officiating the opening the three-day 10th annual joint health sector review.
“The successes are largely attributed to
the government’s commitment and improving access to maternity care in
primary health care units, and now people are more aware of the
importance of giving birth in hospitals and the magnitude of risks
associated with home delivery,” Mr Iddi said.
Ambassador Iddi read a speech on behalf
of President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein who was supposed to be the guest of
honour at the forum, saying more sensitization programmes were conducted
to raise awareness of the importance of giving birth in hospitals and
healthy birth practices.
The Second Vice-President informed
participants including officers from development partners such as UNFPA,
UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, and individual countries that despite the
achievement, the government is aware that hospitals and buildings are
meaningless without committed and well-trained staffs.
“Fortunately after six years training,
38 medical doctors have graduated and are now employed, which is in
addition to 12 doctors expected to graduate this year while 139 students
pursue a doctor of medicines course at the State University of Zanzibar
(SUZA).
He said that in improving the supply of
medicines and equipment in hospitals, the government has increased the
budget for health from 1.0bn/- in 2012/2014 fiscal year to 4.3bn/- this
year (2015/2016), as the investment in health is being encouraged.
Mr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, the Deputy
Minister of Health said this year’s theme for the health review forum is
‘Stronger Commitment to health for sustainable development’. “Our
government has a policy of free/affordable primary health care and we
are in final stages of the design of our own health insurance scheme,”
he said.
Dr Mohamed Saleh Jidawi, the Principal
Secretary (PS), Ministry of Health said: “Our intention in the coming
financial year and years ahead is to put all efforts towards a single
goal of ensuring universal health coverage to the people of Zanzibar
with the aim of increasing the prosperity of Zanzibar as a whole.”
Speaking on behalf of the development
partners, Dr Ms Kirsten Havemann, a counsellor of health from the
embassy of Denmark commended Zanzibar for recording success in improving
the health sector.
“We, development partners, will continue
our commitment to invest in a plan that meets Zanzibar’s unique needs
in health,” she said
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