NANSIO REFERRAL HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UNDER PROBE BY HEALTH MINISTER IN TANZANIA

Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu has formulated a probe team to investigate alleged fraud at the Nansio Referral Hospital construction project worth 2.7bn/- in the Ukerewe district.

The committee of five members, led by retired Judge Thomas Mihayo, is tasked with unearthing the truth on fraud allegations, which in turn have led to delays and valuations of the scheme.

The minister formed the team during her work visit to Ukerewe District on December 21 this week, where she inspected the progress of the execution of the Nansio Referral Hospital Project which has reached 60 percent, so far.

The project, which kicked off in May this year, was expected to be completed in January 2023 but might be delayed because of alleged fraud, irresponsibility, and lack of cooperation among officials.

According to Ms. Mwalimu, on May 2022, the Central Government allocated 2.7bn/- to Ukerewe Island to build the referral hospital, considering its geographical location being an Island enclosed within Lake Victoria and being far from Sekou Toure Regional Hospital.

She said the step was taken as an alternative to enable the majority of the citizens to have access to specialist health services, including radiology and surgery advancing health services in Ukerewe for sustainable development.

“The target might be missed, since the Nansio Referral Hospital construction project is surrounded by fraud allegations, raising questions over value for money and why the contractor was paid 100 percent of the payment, even before the implementation of the project,” she pointed out.

Elaborating, Ms. Mwalimu noted that the project’s master plan also didn’t consider referral hospital buildings’ requirement(s), as currently four structures are under construction.

She named them as Reproductive Child Health (RCH), Out Patients Department (OPD), Pharmacy and Mortuary which were not in the government’s plan, adding: “The four structures target health services which can also be provided at the district hospital as well as in the dispensary.”

In a related development, she directed the review of the master plan shortly after submission of the report from the formed special committee led by retired justice Mihayo.

On his part, Mwanza Regional Officer Adam Malima called for observance of value for money, and reminded contractors and the project consultants to rethink about the quality of the structures so that they meet standards of the intended purpose.