CCM Secretary for ideology, publicity and training Amos Makala has asked the contractor building Mbagala Rangitatu Hospital in Dar es Salaam to complete the work on time so that it can start providing services to area residents.

He also asked the contractor to ensure the hospital is equipped with facilities for people with disabilities and elderly patients seeking medical care.

Makala made the appeal yesterday when speaking at the construction site during an inspection of the six-storey facility which costs 10.8bn/.

“I ask Group Six International Ltd to complete the construction by June next year because we have our own events in October next year,” he said.

He said that he was personally interested in the progress of the project because while serving as Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner he was involved from the initial stages to the final selection of the contractor.

“I participated in the entire process. We decided to build it because Mbagala has a large population. Additionally, there was a problem with the distance and time residents spent traveling to receive medical services at the Temeke Regional Referral Hospital,” he said.

Temeke Municipal Medical Officer Dr Jonas Lulandala stated that the municipality has 179 health facilities: 30 public, 133 private, 17 faith-based, and two government agencies. He said the new hospital will serve 438,141 residents.

Dr Lulandala added that the hospital will have 235 permanent staff and 55 contractual staff. Once completed, it will have the capacity to admit 165 patients, provide specialized services, including surgeries on seven to 14 patients daily.

The hospital will also have wards for children, men and women as well as maternity services for 30 to 40 women daily.

He mentioned that sources of funding for the hospital's construction include 2.4bn/- from the Temeke District Council and 2bn/- from the national government.

Mbagala MP Abdallah Chaurembo said: “We are very grateful to the government for providing us with 2bn/- to start construction of this hospital.”