Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE importance of school libraries can not be over emphasized, it is a store house of knowledge. This is why Mantra Tanzania Limited is elated to spearhead this development in Namtumbo schools through the donation e-libraries.
The donation of electronic libraries is an initiative which has been in the works since 2019, where Mantra Tanzania partnered with Read International, a non-governmental organization, to transform unused rooms in Namtumbo secondary schools into well-stocked libraries. The donated libraries are provided with the essentials: basic training on library management, shelves, tables, seats and books.
This month, Mantra Tanzania will donate the 4th completed electronic library in Namtumbo, as part of a continued efforts to boost the education sector in Namtumbo District. The donation, which will be made to Pamoja High school of Namtumbo is an important milestone in the use of technology in learning in the district. Currently; three computers have already been installed and connected to the Internet in the premises. A special program with library functionality and an interface has been developed and installed, electronic books and tutorials have been uploaded to school web portals.
Using the resources of the electronic library, students will be able to read and watch materials on school subjects, teachers will be able to download and share information and plans for preparing lessons. Computers in Pamoja High school are connected to the electronic libraries of other schools, so students and teachers will now have the opportunity to participate in online conferences and, finally, interact and just chat.
By creating a functional and inspirational learning environment, the initiative has paved the way for students and teachers to have access to educational resources necessary for the development of a reading culture.
Since the start of the library refurbishing projects, Mantra in partnership with Read International, has initiated 7 library refurbishment projects, serving over 4,000 students in Namtumbo. We have delivered over 11,000 books to 7 secondary schools and donated 16 computers to 4 secondary schools, thus creating the first e-libraries in Namtumbo.
As a result, we have witnessed an increase of independent and confident readers, an energized culture of reading within the school community and enhanced learning through use of technology.
Along with the donations being made towards the education sector, Mantra Tanzania has also played a vital role in development of the health sector through its contribution in the construction of Namtumbo District Hospital.
The construction of the hospital started in 2014, but was highly boosted by Mantra in 2017 through Namtumbo Selous Marathon. Since then the hospital expanded and started to offer new assistance and gaining facilities. Currently, the hospital receives more than 15 in-patients and more than 60 out-patients in a day and offers a wide range of services from patient treatment, dentistry and maternity ward to pharmaceutical work and laboratory research.
Before the construction of the hospital, patients used dispensaries and health centres and for further treatment they had to go to the regional hospital in Songea which is 64 km from Namtumbo.
Tatu Mohamed a young mother of two shared that in 2014 she almost lost her child as she had to travel all the way to Songea to seek medical treatment. The fare was not affordable and when she was admitted in Songea her upkeep was also too much for her, as her family could not afford to travel to Songea every day to bring her food. She is now happy that the district hospital has a maternal and children’s ward that caters for their needs.
Namtumbo Division Executive Officer Alkwin Ndomba, thanked Mantra for being a major driver of development efforts in the local community, whereby over the past five years there have been significant changes in the health and education sectors in Namtumbo District.
But sky is not the limit and the hospital has bigger plans for future development. One of them is a completion of the hospital so that it becomes fully operational with all necessary medical services and facilities. The hospital should also have a fully operating theatre, get an ambulance and another vehicle for general usage in the near future. We, Mantra Tanzania Limited are fully committed to support this vision.
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