Africa-Press – Tanzania. AS the government continues with efforts to improve health delivery services in the country, about 3.5bn/- has been allocated for rehabilitation of five health centres in Kagera Region.
Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC), Major Gen Charles Mbuge hailed the government for the support, naming the health centres that will be involved in the project as including Murusagamba and Mabawe (Ngara), Kishanje and Katoro (Bukoba DC) and Kimeya (Muleba).
He explained that the number of pregnant women who deliver at health facilities increased from 58 per cent recorded during 2015 to 77.6 per cent last year.
“On behalf of Kagera residents, I thank the sixth phase administration under the leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the health care support in the region.
“By ensuring that health facilities are equipped to deliver comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care services, we can effectively address the fatal complications during childbirth, including severe bleeding, infection, prolonged or obstructed labor, eclampsia and asphyxia in the newborn,” he said.
RC Mbuge elaborated that the region also managed to reduce malaria prevalence rate from 41 per cent recorded during 2015/2016 to 15.6 per cent last year, while the national average stands at 7.3 per cent.
He attributed the good performance to in-house spraying and use of insecticide treated nets among the residents which has to-date reached almost 92 per cent.
“Until September 30th this year, at least 1,281,568 nets had already been distributed to various vulnerable groups, including pregnant women (499,338 nets), under-five children (429,998 nets) and school pupils (352,832 nets), he said.
Provision of health services in the country is sometimes affected by inadequate systems for referral and transport, insufficient drugs and supplies and limited access to insurance schemes.
Statistics indicate that two out of three of all maternal deaths globally occur in sub-Saharan Africa.
Only six African countries dedicate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to the health sector, while over 11 million people are falling into poverty every year due to high out of pocket payments on health.
Data shows that lack of affordable, quality health care continues to trap many in poverty.
Globally, as many as 100 million people a year are pushed into poverty due to high health care costs and about 30 per cent of households in Africa and Asia have to borrow money or sell assets to pay for health.
In addition, although Africa accounts for 24 per cent of the global burden of diseases, it has only 3 per cent of the global health workforce.
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