Nyangao Mission Hospital become Council Designated Hospital

On 29, October, 2009 was a historical day for Lindi Rural District residents as important event of signing agreement between Catholic Diocese of Lindi and Lindi Rural Council took place in which Nyangao Hospital became a Council Designated Hospital (CDH).

The function started at around 10:30 a.m. whereby the Council Chairman underlined that It was a clear fact that Lindi Rural District Council has got no Hospital and it has taken quiet a long time to discuss together with Councilors and experts on the idea of signing CDH Agreement with the Catholic Diocese of Lindi for Nyangao and finally, unanimously reached a conclusion to sign the agreement. It was therefore the decision of the Council to sign this agreement.

Lindi Region has got six District Councils whereby the Lindi Rural District Council has got 48 health facilities, comprised of 1 Hospital, 6 Health Centers and 41 Dispensaries.

The Nyangao Hospital belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Lindi. One Health Center belongs to the Catholic Diocese and one Dispensary belongs to the Anglican Church in Tanzania-Masasi Diocese. The rest of health facilities belong to the Government.

The reasons for taking Nyangao Voluntary Agency Hospital to be CDH was that the Diocese had requested the Council to designate the Hospital due to the shortage of funds to run the hospital, shortage of medical supplies and equipment and shortage of staff. The Council accepted to designate Nyangao Hospital especially because of its history and potentiality to offer quality health services to the people of Lindi and even to the people beyond the borders of Lindi region. Above all, the Council was driven with the Government policy of Public Private Partnership in the provision of social services in the country.

The region was facing serious challenges in the provision of health services among others including shortage of190 trained health staff, lack of clean and safe water and poor accessibility of some areas especially during rain seasons.

The government has been requested to improve staff housing and increase the number of health workers to bridge the gap felt.

The event has translated the Government PPP policy into practice and implied that the health services at Nyangao Hospital would improve even more. He called upon the health workers and management of Nyangao Hospital to work hard to meet people’s expectation.

Catholic Diocese of Lindi Bishop Bruno Ngonyani expressed his sincerely thanks to all who made the event possible mentioning that it was important to enter into partnership because the rate of donations from abroad had drastically gone down. He hoped to retain the quality of health services offered at Nyangao through the partnership with the Government.

Nyangao mission hospital became the 7th church run hospital to sign the agreement after Bumbuli hospital in Lushoto District, St Raphael Hospital in Korogwe District, St Francis hospital in Handeni, Tanga Region. Kipatimu Hospital in Kilwa District, Marangu Hospital in Moshi Rural District and Iambi Hospital in Iramba District, Singida Region.