Samia commends NBC’s efforts for improvements in health sector
DODOMA: President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has commended the efforts of the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) in supporting the health sector in the country, especially through its banking services and various programmes.
Further, she urged the bank to explore ways of supporting the financing of health professionals’ education for children with Autism in the country in order to address the shortage of the professionals.
President Samia made the commendations in Dar es Salaam, yesterday while winding up the National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Conference organized by the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation (BMF) at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in the city.
The event was attended by various health sector stakeholders and senior national leaders, including the President of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Dr. Hussein Ally Mwinyi, the Minister of Health, Ummy Mwalimu, and other government officials, including retirees.
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In her remarks, President Samia expressed her delight at the efforts of the the bank in serving various health sector stakeholders through interest-free loans, as well as financing various programmes in the sector, including the sponsorship of education for 100 midwives, which the bank is implementing in collaboration with the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation.
“I am pleased with the efforts of NBC, who have, in their philanthropy, returned to the people and sponsored the education of those 100 midwives in collaboration with the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation… Now I urge these efforts to continue, and not be limited to one year. I urge you to now invest in educating professionals in the fields that the institution and the ministry deem most deserving. We have heard the Minister of Health saying that there is a shortage of professionals in Autism’s fight. I now ask NBC to focus on educating more of them,” she pointed out.
Earlier, the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, while visiting the bank’s exhibition at the occasion also praised the financial institution’s work saying that it is helping the government improve in the health sector.
Speaking after receiving a brief report from the bank’s Head of Communications and Public Relations Department, Mr Godwin Semunyu, on the various efforts made by the bank in the health sector, the Prime Minister stated that the government appreciates their role as well as other stakeholders in supporting the sector.
“Just recently, I led the NBC Dodoma Marathon that took place in Dodoma, where a total of 300m/- was raised by the bank for various healthcare initiatives, especially in saving the lives of mothers and children. In Zanzibar, they have also been funding free diagnostic services for pregnant women through mobile clinics, among many other efforts. We greatly value the significant contribution made by NBC and other stakeholders in supporting this important sector,” he pointed out.
While at the booth, the Minister for Health, Ummy Mwalimu, also commended the bank for its efforts in the health sector, promising to continue collaborating with the bank in implementing various projects in the health sector, especially those targeting the health of mothers and children.
Commenting, Mr Semunyu, outlined the bank’s multifaceted approach to supporting the health sector, saying: “In addition to providing banking services and financing healthcare infrastructure and equipment, NBC actively sponsors and conducts numerous healthcare programs throughout the country.”
He further highlighted the bank’s initiatives, such as the NBC Dodoma Marathon, which raised funds to combat cervical cancer among mothers, as well as scholarships for 100 midwives in partnership with the Benjamin Mkapa Foundation. He also mentioned the bank’s contribution to the construction of a surgical room at the Muhimbili National Hospital.
In a related development, Mr Semunyu emphasized the bank’s efforts in providing collateral-free loans to healthcare service providers, enabling them to expand their businesses and improve access to quality medical services.
He added: “’The bank has also donated critical medical equipment to hospitals across various regions, demonstrating its holistic approach to supporting the health sector.”
The meeting provided a platform for key stakeholders in the health industry to showcase their contributions and collaborations. NBC, a prominent player in the banking sector, demonstrated its unwavering commitment to supporting and improving the country’s healthcare landscape.
