Africa-Press – Tanzania. GRUMETI Fund has spent 100m/- in the construction of a maternal child care unit at a new dispensary located at Omahe locality at Makundusi Village in Serengeti District, Mara region.
The non-profit organisa- tion which supports conservation and community devel- opment activities in Western Serengeti handed over the building to Serengeti District Commissioner (DC) Dr Vi- cent Mashinji last Saturday.
The construction of the building is expected to significantly reduce if not end maternal and child deaths at the village with an estimated over 3,000 population.
“Indeed, this is a modern building and other investors in Serengeti should emulate the good example by Grumeti Fund “, Dr Mashinji remarked shortly after officiating at handing over event of the building at the remote village.
The DC ordered Serengeti district council to deploy ad- ditional medical personnel at the rural health facility suc- cessfully built by local con- struction company called Mulle & Company.
Serengeti District Council Acting Executive Director, Dr Emiliana Donald said the dispensary will start offering basic services like vaccinations to expectant mothers.
“We are so pleased by this support from Grumeti Fund on health sector in our coun- cil. Vaccination services to mother and child will begin at this dispensary as soon as possible and if all goes well by New Year”, Dr Emiliana who is also the District Medi- cal Officer (DMO) in the Tanzania’s wildlife rich district, said.
Grumeti Fund General Manager, Mathew Perry handed over the building to the Serengeti officials led by the DC during an event which was also attended by beneficiaries – the villagers.
According to Mr Perry, the construction of the building was also facilitated by lo- cal communities who offered building materials like stones and sand.
“This project was initiated by citizens of Omahe and we thank them for adding a con- tribution of 18m/- on top of 100m/- donated by Grumeti Fund”,Mr Perry who was also accompanied by Community Development Manager at Grumeti Fund, Ms Frida Mollel said.
He said that Grumeti Fund will continue supporting /supplementing ongoing efforts by the government to improve health sector and other social services to the citizens.
Earlier, Makundusi Village chairman, Mr Joseph Nyaikobe said the construction of the building brought a smile to citizens who in the past were spending about six kilometres walking to seek medical services at the dis- pensary in a distant place.
“Omahe sub-village has been leading with the problem of maternal and child deaths at our village and we thank Grumeti Fund for listening to our request.
Our relationships with Grumeti is good”, the village government chairman said.
The rural villagers espe- cially women received the building with joy and happi- ness describing it as big relief.
“We are now going to forget the problem of mother and child deaths, many thank Grumeti Fund and our village government for bringing health services they missed for decades closer to our homes “, a village woman identified as Doricas Malindi said.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
