Public-private partnership improves health service delivery

Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Mecky Sadik (right), shares a lighter moment with Archbishop Nobert Mtega of Songea Catholic Archdiocese shortly after inaugurating the Saint Benedict Health Centre in Kitunda Ward, Ilala District.


ALOYCE NDELEIO
Dar es Salaam

Private institutions, ranging from private companies to religious organizations, have contributed immensely by complementing government efforts directed at meeting the Millennium Development Goal on health by making sure their services are accessed by many people, mostly the low income group.
Recently, the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes established a health centre christianed the St. Benedictine Health Center in Kitunda Ward, Ilala District in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam City with their motto highlighting that caring for the sick should be given first priority and surpass all other activities

The centre is wholly owned and run by Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes whose headquarters are in Chipole, Archdiocese of Songea Catholic Church.

The religious order's Superior Mother, Maria Shukrani Mkonde OSB said that the idea of establishing the centre came from the request by Kitunda residents via the Kitunda Sub-Parish executive committee then under Ukonga Parish led by Ukonga Parish Priest, Father Stephano Nyimwila.

Mkonde said, after considering the challenges and shortage of health services in Kitunda Ward, the committee discussed on how to resolve it. On April 28, 2008, they presented a request to change the proposed use of a building that had been earmarked to be a convent. In their letter they described the challenges the Kitunda society faced specifically in the health sector.

The Sisters also conducted surveys and several researches that convinced them before arriving at a reasonable conclusion of converting the building from a convent to a health center.

“As a religious order we are not only obliged to bring up people spiritually but also to care for them health wise,she said, adding that since they recognised efforts taken by the government in social services provision, among them health, it was difficult for them to go it alone.

From that point of view she said they saw it wise to join forces with the government in such efforts of making sure that Tanzanians are getting important health services.

Their willingness to convert the building so that it can serve others was a sacrifice of its kind, while putting Jesus first then other people and last theirs, hence can be abbreviated as J.O.Y (Jesus first Others then Yours).

On the other hand the Songea Archdiocese Archbishop Norbet Mtega noted that the state has an obligation to serve its people but it can't do it alone, without support from other institutions and among them religious institutions, adding that joining forces will enable reaching the majority in provision of important services.

The construction of the center and its infrastructure including hospital equipment, a standby generator and fence cost 474.54 m/-.

The centre boasts of various departments including dental, laboratory, Out Patient Department (OPD), wards, each with the capacity of accommodating 10 people, a medical room, injection room, dressing room, reception, two rooms for doctors and a modern incinerator.

Employment opportunities

With the establishment of the centre employment avenues were opened including those of an Assistant Medical Officer, four clinical officers, dental therapist, seven nurses, social nurse, two laboratory assistants and financial and administration four posts. Moreover, the centre has a Facility Management Committee which works under the center's health board of 12 members.

While launching the center, the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner, Said Meck Sadiq, said that the private sector has contributed positively by opening employment opportunities, thereby complementing government efforts. ?hen we say the government will create one million job opportunities it includes the ones from private sector, therefore, private sector alleviates government's burden.

The centre has a capacity to serve 1,800 up to 2000 patients per month, meaning it has the capacity of attending to 60 to 67 patients a day.

Sadiq said, this has brought relief to the public and therefore, the government has to put in place measures to make sure that the centre can access medicines from the Medical Stores Department. On the other hand he said the Ward Councilor has a duty of making the road infrastructure to the centre accessible.

“The government appreciates the Catholic Church and other religious congregations for offering social development services especially in the health sector. This should be emulated by other private institutions through taking services closer to the people.”

Public-private partnership

Among challenges the centre faces is lack of an ambulance and absence of Mother and Child Health ward and for the time being its services are provided in the Out Patient Department.

Responding to this need, the National Bank of Commerce donated 10m/- for the purchase of an ambulance which was presented to the Regional Commissioner by the bank's Communications Adviser Redemptus Masanja.

Masanja said, we have to share with the society what we have gained from our business. Therefore, the bank contributes this amount so that people could get health services in a conducive environment and in addition the bank has also opened an account to help well wishers contribute towards the exercise. Meanwhile some well wishers can contribute direct to the centre.

The Mother Superior added that the Benedictine Sisters' focus is to elevate the centre to a hospital so that it will be able to provide other health services like obstetrics, surgeries, caring for the people living with HIV/Aids, modern laboratories services and many others.

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