Enhancing Laboratory services for Regional Hospitals

The Private Public Partnership initiatives have expanded extraordinarily within Tanzania especially within the Health sector and an example is the PPP agreement between the Abbott Fund and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which aims to improve Laboratory services within the country’s regional hospitals. The regional hospitals that are categorized as Referral hospitals are meant to provide quality diagnostic services to Tanzanians, hence the physical infrastructure and equipment of 23 regional hospital laboratories were improved through the support of Abbott Fund.

Laboratory technologist working at Tanga Regional Hospital to serve the community

The Benjamin William Mkapa HIV/AIDS Foundation comes in to supplement these national efforts by ensuring availability of laboratory professionals through the Mkapa Fellows Programme and this is attained through recruitment and deployment of qualified sixty (60) laboratory technologists who will be placed in 10 regional hospitals of Mara, Kagera, Shinyanga, Singida, Kigoma, Tabora, Rukwa, Coast, Lindi and Mtwara.  Each Regional Hospital receives 6 laboratory technologists  as Fellows, and work on 12 months contract with the Foundation, prior to being streamlined into the government employment systems for continuity of services.                                              

          New Laboratory building at Tumbi Hospital, Kibaha

Until August 2012, total of 30 laboratory technologists ( Fellows) have been recruited by the Foundation and are currently working at, Lindi, Mtwara, Coast, Kigoma, Shinyanga and Tabora Regional hospitals. The Fellows work under the supervision of the Regional Medical Officer and it is alignment to the signed tripartite agreement between BMAF, Regional authorities and the Fellow.

“ Prior to their arrival our modern constructed laboratory had only lab support staff and no lab technologist. So we are indeed delighted to have 6 full time qualified laboratory technologists that make use of the available equipments hence giving timely and quality lab results” Dr.John  Gurisha -  former Regional Medical Officer, Mtwara  Region.