Korea Injects 2.7bn/- To Support MNCH Healthcare Services In Dodoma Region

 

By Staff Writer, DODOMA

THE government of Korea, through its health flagship project, the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) has spent more than 2.7bn/- to support and improve maternal and child health services in the two districts of Kongwa and Mpwapwa Districts in Dodoma Region.

The amount which has been spent between 2021 and 2023 saw implementation of an array of interventions in the two districts with an eye to curb maternal and child mortality rate, but also, to help improve facilities and rolling out of key health services in the side of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Healthcare (MNCH).

Throughout implementation of the helpful project, it has been unveiled that there has been a significant increase in the number of mothers who are attending to medical facilities (health centers) to seek for prenatal services, as well as to deliver babies in the two districts.

KOFIH is a governmental organization affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea. KOFIH provides government-level health assistance for partner countries, with the major focus being to strengthen the capacity of the health workforce, especially in the side of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Healthcare (MNCH).

Speaking during a special forum tailored for the evaluation of the implementation of the project for the past two years, the representative from the KOFIH project, Nice Moshi expressed that apart from procuring vital medical equipments, the timely initiative was also majoring in conducting of relevant community sensitization programa towards different groups within the two districts.

“As part of the implementation of the project in the two districts, during the two elapsed years (2021-23) we managed to construct theatre rooms, incinerator, placenta pit and ash pit at different health facilities, but also, we procured ambulances, infant radiation warmer, screens as well as delivering beds,” she detailed.

Together with that, she further expressed that the project was also disseminating the useful education over reproductive health, saying students from a total of 20 schools (primary and secondary) have so far reached and trained accordingly.

“The project has also managed to impart at least 300 community leaders and 900 women of reproductive age with positive health education,” she added.

She also added that the initiative was also working to sensitize the community over the need to collect blood, informed that from February to August 2023, a total of 977 blood units were collected, equal to 146 percent  of 666 expected  units.

On his side, speaking on behalf of the Dodoma Regional Commissioner (RC) during the session, the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS) Ally Gugu said implementation of the project propells to positive improvement in the regional Neonatal and Child Healthcare (MNCH) sector.

He expressed that as per the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (2022 TDHS) on maternal health, Dodoma region was performing well in the side.

In the region, Gugu detailed, at least 90.9 percent of the mothers are delivering at the relevant health facilities, while 76.8 percent of the expectant mothers are attending to different clinics.

“The government is kindly appreciating the robust support being given by the government of Korea through the KOFIH project in elevating the Neonatal and Child Healthcare (MNCH) services in Dodoma region,” he said.

As part of the envisaged implementation of the third phase of the project in the two districts,  the initiative is looking forward to conducting a number of things, including to procure the standby generator for Kibaigwa health Mkoka health centre in Kongwa district.

Other plans include construction of  pediatrics (Neonatal Units) at Kibaigwa heath centre, procurement and installation of anaesthesia machines at Kibaigwa and Mkoka health facilities.