Chancellor of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) who is the former president, Dr Ali Hassan Mwinyi honours one of over 850 graduants at the 9th MUHAS graduation ceremony at the weekend in Dar.
Speaking during the ninth MUHAS graduation held in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, MUHAS Vice Chancellor Ephata Kaaya said this year’s number of grandaunts is bigger than that of previous years reflecting the varsities commitment to address the shortage of workers in the sector.
Urging the granduants to adhere to the ethical rules of their practice, he said the country requires competent health professionals who work under rules and regulations prioritising public safety.
He went on to thank the government for allowing them to employ at least 968 workers for a new MUHAS teaching hospital at Mlonganzila campus located in Coast Region but appealed to the government to issue the official authorisation (permit) to enable them to start employing the needed staff.
“The centre is in its final stages of completion and by June next year it will be ready to start working,” he said.
“However the training hospital will not work without workers that’s why we are begging for the government to issue the authorisation to start employing,” he added.
MUHAS Council Chairman Deogratius Ntukamazina said the varsity is implementing various strategies that will enable it to continue enrolling as many students as it can.
He said in completion of Mloganzila Campus the varsity will be able to increase enrollment to over 15,000 students from 3500.
“Health challenges will be solved by efficient, committed and qualified health workers and so MUHAS has improved its curricular to cope with the changes and needs,” he said.
Mid this year, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, Hawa Ghasia told parliament that the government will continue to enroll students into health institutions to bridge the sector gap.
“Among priorities of the ministry is to have enough workers in all dispensaries and health centres...I am sure we will succeed on this,” she said.
The minister said the ministry plans to improve the sector by cooperating with private health centres which are currently providing services in many urban areas to operate in rural areas.
“We are also planning to insist on training of employees at their working places,” she added citing also emphasis on reallocation of workers to meet the needs of the people and issuance of new permits for the opening of more health centres.
She also said that the government in cooperation with various NGOs is working to create a better environment for health workers especially in rural areas to motivate their performance.