Minister of Health Zanzibar, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, has said that they will continue to cooperate with the Pharm Access Organization to see that they continue to provide health services to the citizens that are improving in the country and continue to be provided on time.
Speaking at the launch of groups of patients living with non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the community, including high blood pressure and diabetes, the event was held at the Bumbwini school hall.
He said, non-communicable diseases are currently a threat in Zanzibar and currently the government in collaboration with various creditors have put in place effective plans to see that they fight against these diseases.
He said, they have put in place strategies to strengthen health centers including providing education to community health workers (CHV) in order to continue to provide better health services to community members.
He said, the launch of the plan, will set a strategy to strengthen health in the community including, improving clinics to dispensaries, the goal is to strengthen basic health starting from the community itself.
The resident director of the Pharm Access organization, Dr. Heri Marwa, their organization has been working in four countries including, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania and the main goal is access to quality health services for the people.
He said, due to the challenges faced by patients with these diseases, their organization has found it good to make it easier for them to access health services in their districts.
He said it is important to have strategies to control these diseases in order to be able to eliminate the costs of self-treatment of these diseases for the government and the family.
Along with that, he said, their organization is ready to cooperate with the government to ensure that the system of providing services for those diseases can reach the 11 districts of Zanzibar so that they can be reached by services.
Earlier, Head of the non-communicable diseases division, Dr. Omar Mohammed Suleiman, he said, through the sponsors of the Pharm Access organization, it has made it easier for them to get to know their patients and provide them with the best services for diabetes and hypertension patients.
In addition, he said, the project is currently in two districts of the northern region, their goal in the future is to reach the entire community of Zanzibar to see that they are fighting these diseases.
Speaking about the established system, a doctor from Bumbwini Misifuji Health Center, Dr. Aisha Wadi Ame, she said, these services have helped reduce the frequency of those patients where they have been getting services easily as well as easy access to medicines for their patients.
He said, through those groups, they have been able to provide them with health education about blood pressure and diabetes where the information about their tests have been connected to the system by the doctor, which has helped monitor the progress of the patients without interruption.
Giving testimony of the availability of services provided, Jafari Iyombwe Haji, thanked the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar under the Ministry of Health for collaborating with the Pharm Access Organization for sending them services to their village as it has made it easier for them to access services where they were previously experiencing inconvenience.
In addition, he informed that now they have been getting these services easily and at a high level of proximity where doctors have been providing them with appropriate and timely services.
