The Tanzania Government has appreciated Catholic Church for health serivices

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy, Hon. Dr. Doto Biteko has said that the Government has continued to implement many projects in the health sector aimed at increasing efficiency in health services and improving the lives of Tanzanians.

Along with commending the Catholic Church for its efforts to provide health services in various areas at a time when the Government has also continued to make large investments in the health sector.

Dr. Biteko said this today November 1, 2024 Sengerema in Mwanza region while representing the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan at the launch of a new modern surgical building and solar power project at the Sengerema DDH hospital located under the Catholic Church, Geita Catholic Diocese. 

Mentioning some of the Government's achievements in the sector, Dr. Biteko has said "The government led by Hon. President Samia has done a lot of work, including building 129 new hospitals, renovating 50 old hospitals, building 677 district hospitals and 425 clinics. I am asking the people of Sengerema and all of us to know that the donors have given money for the construction of this building and the solar power project. for us so let's take care of this infrastructure," 

He emphasized "We will be treated from Kigoma and Kagera and during Covid 19 there was a lot of help here, it will not be the same when they come and find that we have changed and become different from their goal, let us take care of these facilities and these buildings and give them encouragement so that they can help us in other areas in need. " 

He continued by thanking the sponsors of the projects and making the hospital better and modern. curing their diseases and removing them from poverty is an important matter," 

In addition, Dr. Biteko has noted that the Government appreciates the contribution of the church in the development of the people. 

Speaking about the National Development Vision 2050, he said it is built on the basis of peace and security while asking religious leaders to continue preaching peace and bringing Tanzanians together to continue building their country. 

Apart from that, Dr. Biteko has urged Tanzanians to participate in the Local Government Elections peacefully and to follow procedures and laws and that the election should not be a reason to divide them.

And, Sengerema Member of Parliament, Hon. Hamis Mwagawa has thanked the monk Dr. Marie Jose and congratulated him for providing services to the people and said that even during the Covid 19 epidemic as well as thanking all the donors who gave themselves for the construction of the surgery building.

On his part, the Bishop of Geita Catholic Diocese, Flavian Kassala said that the construction of the hospital started with the arrival of six monks and one family who needed to build a hospital that would provide health care to the needy and later the hospital was selected until this year when the Government built its hospital of the district.

"We are making efforts to run services at a low cost and we have a fund to help the needy where we get help from the Friends of Sengerema and Simba Health who came up with the idea of ​​having an operating room with modern equipment and now we have found this building that will help provide services modern surgery," said Bishop Kassala.

He went on to say that after having the building, an idea came from the Friends of Sengerema Association who are student doctors from the Netherlands to propose a large solar power project to also help use in CT scan and MRI systems.

General Physician of Sengerema Hospital Sr. Dr. Marie Jose has said that the hospital has the capacity to admit 22,000 patients and provides specialist services for mothers and children as well as being part of practical training for student doctors from the Bugando Regional Hospital.

"We have started to improve our services and the radiation department has new equipment, we have care for children who need special care and we have reliable solar electricity. Today is a happy day, we have this building which has cost 2.7 billion shillings and the solar power project has cost 1.7 billion shillings," said Dr. Jose. 

One of the sponsors of the surgery building, Mrs. Doris Mars has said that when they got the idea of ​​funding the project, she and her family decided to help because the project aims to improve people's lives. 

"God has given us the ability to help others and the Holy Bible tells us that every human being is created in his image and likeness, so we believe we will help save lives and give comfort to the people of Sengerema. We also thank all those who contributed to these projects," said Bibi. Mars.

The representative of Sopowerful, Dr. Koen Gelpke has said that the presence of a modern building also required reliable electricity to provide services to the people and that is why they decided to build a solar power project.

Originally Dr. Biteko participated in the celebration of the Holy Mass for the opening of a new modern surgery building

Preaching in the mass, the Hasham Archbishop of Songea Province, Damiani Denis Dalu said that today is the feast of all the saints and it is a big celebration in the liturgy and that they remember all the saints.

He has explained that those saints are the ones who succeeded and were put to death to be an example to all people that the life of following Jesus Christ is fruitful in heaven. 

Bishop Dalu has continued to say that the Catholic Church is missionary where 12 apostles were sent around the world to preach the gospel.

" African missionaries are the ones who preached the gospel in this area in their evangelization, they made sure every time they arrived they provided health, education and social services in general. And this is the Parish of the Virgin Mary, the health of the sick. In this area, the missionaries opened a sick center and they also built an area for them to pray." Bishop Dalu said. 

He emphasized "We thank the National Founder Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere for honoring and recognizing these services for the people and the Government for developing this. Today we thank God and pray for each other so that what we are going with remains the same, we are grateful for the efforts that the Government has made in this hospital in 2013 to 2015,

Also, Archbishop Dalu has thanked the donors from the Netherlands for their contribution to the Sengerema DDH hospital "Where we are going is good and we are very grateful to our donors for this evangelization, we also thank the Bishop for the friendship between these dioceses and helping us in Sengerema Hospital and the training center. "