AfricaPress-Tanzania: MUSLIMS in Dar es Salaam yesterday began holding special thanksgiving prayers to the Almighty God following a steady decline in Coronavirus cases in the country.
The prayers are being held in response to President John Magufuli’s call to Tanzanians to dedicate three days from Friday to Sunday (May 22- 24) to thank God for the relief He had granted to the nation as it battles the Coronavirus pandemic.
Leading prayers at Mtoro Mosque in Dar es Salaam, the Regional Sheikh, Alhad Salum, commended Dr Magufuli for his faith in God while dealing with the pandemic.
He said Dr Magufuli was the first president who believed in the power of prayers in containing the disease by urging his compatriots to pray hard so that God could heal the nation from the pandemic.
“We thank God for our president who is God fearing with visions in various issues which have uplifted the country,” he said.
Sheikh Salum called upon Muslims and Tanzanians in general to continue praying for Dr Magufuli as he leads the nation on the right path.
“We are holding these prayers in response to his call to thank God for his mercy on Tanzania; we have started today (Friday) as Muslims and others will continue tomorrow and Sunday … we believe that in these three days God will continue to heal the nation from the pandemic,” he said.
Speaking during a Sunday Service at the Chato Parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Geita Region on May 17, Dr Magufuli said there were few patients in government and private health facilities and most of them were in good condition.
“Most of them are in good shape and healthy but are forced to remain in hospitals only because they still test positive for the Covid-19,” noted Dr Magufuli.
Giving the breakdown, President Magufuli said as of yesterday, the number of patients at Amana hospital was 12, a big drop from 198.
Other facilities and the number of patients in brackets are Mloganzila (6), Lulanzi centre in Kibaha District, Coast Region (22 patients), Aga Khan Hospital (31), Hindu Mandal (16), Regency Hospital (17), TMJ (7) and Rabinisia Hospital (14).
He said in Arusha Region, there are three centres, of which Moshono has 11 patients, while Nyiorendeki in Longido and Dofu in Karatu had no patients.
In Mwanza Region, where there are ten centres, Buswelu had two patients, Misungwi (2) while Ukerewe, Magu, Mkuyuni, Buchosa, Sengerema and Kwimba had none as of yesterday.
“Bugando and Sekou Toure hospitals have two patients under special doctors’ attention since they have other health complications, and the same applies to Dodoma where there are two patients of Coronavirus,” he said.
