Develop courses that meets market demand- Mwinyi

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has urged higher learning institutions, to develop courses that address the current and future needs of the country.

“We need graduates with the skills to fill existing and emerging gaps in our national development,” Dr Mwinyi stated at the 12^th graduation ceremony of the Zanzibar School of Health (ZSH).

“As we discuss development plans, including the blue economy, it’s clear that we require experts in various fields. Higher learning institutions must produce graduates that align with these needs,” he said.

He said that establishing market-driven programmes will help address shortages in critical sectors, particularly healthcare, where there is a lack of qualified professionals.

“Graduates serving in health centres and hospitals must uphold ethics, discipline and adhere to job regulations to minimise complaints from those they serve,” Dr Mwinyi insisted during the ceremony at the Mao Tse Tung grounds in Zanzibar.

President Mwinyi noted the government’s commitment to improving healthcare by enhancing infrastructure, equipment and the welfare of medical workers, but stressed the need for more skilled labour, including specialists, to staff new facilities across the country.

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Dr Mwinyi also encouraged young people to study diligently, particularly in newly launched programmes like Optometry and Health Information Sciences at ZSH, assuring the institution of full support in achieving its goals.

ZSH aims to transition into a University of Health Sciences, with plans to introduce Bachelor’s degrees in Counselling, Psychology and Disaster Management in the near future.

Currently, the college offers diploma programmes in Counselling, Psychology, Nursing & Midwifery, Clinical Medicine, Disaster Management and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr Mwinyi praised ZSH for its commitment to improving training quality.

“The efforts of ZSH align with the government’s objective of making Zanzibar a centre of excellence in education,” he said, advising graduates to pursue further education after their diploma to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving world.

During the ceremony, Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Ms Lela Mohammed Mussa commended ZSH for consistently producing professionals, underscoring the importance of this for community well-being and healthcare service enhancement.

Executive Director of ZSH, Ms Aziza Omar Hemed, noted that graduates from the college have excelled in serving citizens in various hospitals and health facilities throughout the country.

A total of 640 graduands received their certificates at the event, which was attended by President Mwinyi. Since its establishment in 2011, ZSH has produced approximately 3,000 graduates, serving in both public and private healthcare sectors.