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By In2EastAfrica - Fri May 27, 9:27 pm
The government of India yesterday signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to enhance construction of Apollo Hospital branch in Dar es Salaam to perform open heart surgery.
Another Joint Action Plan was signed between Small Industries Development Organization (SIDO) and National Industries Corporation (NISIC) to promote the small scale industrial sector for added value to agricultural and industrial products.
Speaking at a joint press conference at the State House in Dar es Salaam on Friday, the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh and President Jakaya Kikwete also pledged intensified consultations and co-ordination on peace and security matters to combat terrorism and piracy.
President Kikwete said the University of Dar es Salaam has allocated land near Mlimani City where the Apollo Branch will be located. The construction work will be financed by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Limited of India, represented by Mr Pratap Reddy will provide medical facilities and the hospital is expected to become operational in two and a half years (30 months).
Mr Kikwete said upon completion of the modern hospital, the country will be able to serve about 11bln/- that is spent annually to send people abroad for medical treatment. He said similar facilities would be constructed in Mwanza, Mbeya and Zanzibar.
We sent 29 medical students to India for training and all completed their studies successfully.
Over 150 cases of open surgery have been handled here successfully, the president said. He added, Construction of another hospital for open heart surgery is underway at the premises of Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) under the support of the government of China and more doctors and nurses will be trained to build own capacity, President Kikwete explained.
Indias Prime Minister Dr Singh announced a new line of credit to Tanzania worth 190 million US dollars in support of both water supply projects in Dar es Salaam and capacity building projects in the social and educational sectors.
Out of support extended as the grant 180 million US dollars will support water projects in Dar es Salaam and USD 10 million for social and education sectors.
We have very similar concerns in the area of community development, peace and security. Terrorism and piracy are two major problems we both face. India has contributed to several UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, Dr Singh said.
Tanzania has been an active participant in Indias capacity building schemes, he added and policies particularly the Cente for Excellence in ICT and the Tele-education component of the Pan-African E-network project.
Indian investment and technology can help Tanzania become an industrial and technological hub of East Africa and its engine of growth, Dr Singh said.
President Kikwete also stressed the governments determination to fight terrorism and piracy.
He said the army (navy) has intensified surveillance in the international waters and several attempts of attack had been suppressed by the army.
Piracy has increased maritime costs and delayed delivery of freights which are compelled to take longer routes to Tanzania. We will fight piracy and terrorism as you all remember the bombing of the American embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998, he said.
He also explained that mechanization of agriculture for the sector to record 10 per cent growth from the present four per cent was the government priority.
He also spoke about the need to educate the people focusing on building capacity for technological advancement and industrial development.
President Kikwete accepted an invitation extended to him by the Indian Prime Minister.
By BILHAM KIMATI, Tanzania Daily News
