The Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) has successfully completed the construction of the Upenja Health Center in North B District, North Unguja Region, Zanzibar.
The facility was officially inaugurated on Sunday, December 22, 2024, by the Minister of Lands and Housing Development for the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Rahma Kassim Ali.
The ceremony formed part of the celebrations marking the 61st anniversary of the Zanzibar Revolution.
The TZS 342 million facility is set to significantly improve access to healthcare for residents of Upenja and nearby wards, offering round-the-clock services.
This development marks a critical milestone in enhancing healthcare provision in the region.
Speaking during the inauguration, Rahma Kassim Ali commended TASAF for its continued commitment to improving the quality of life for program beneficiaries and the community at large through its implementation of the Productive Social Safety Net (PSSN) program.
“TASAF has played a pivotal role in uplifting living standards and boosting household incomes. I urge the residents of Upenja to take good care of this facility so it can serve many generations to come,” she stated.
She further emphasized the importance of the health center, noting that it will provide a wide range of critical services, including surgery, dental care, maternal and child healthcare, outpatient services, and radiology.
Representing TASAF’s Executive Director Shedrack Mziray, TASAF’s Director of Knowledge Management and Advocacy, Japhet Boaz, revealed that a total of TZS 15.18 billion has been invested in various development projects across Zanzibar.
Of this amount, over TZS 1.9 billion was allocated for the procurement of project implementation tools, while TZS 13 billion was used to pay wages to more than 35,000 beneficiary households.
“The projects implemented span multiple sectors, including health, water, education, environment, forestry, roads, fisheries, agriculture, irrigation, and infrastructure development,” Boaz explained.
He further noted that during the second phase of the program, TASAF allocated over TZS 3.1 billion for 15 infrastructure development projects in the education, health, and water sectors.
“This year alone, three projects worth TZS 750 million have been completed in Unguja, in the wards of Bambi, Kizimkazi Dimbani, and Upenja. Additional projects are ongoing in Donge, Uzi, and Kizimkazi Dimbani, with a combined value of TZS 306.6 million,” he added.
The completion of these projects is expected to broaden access to essential services, drive social and economic development, and further contribute to eradicating poverty among vulnerable households in Zanzibar.