Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government , Dr. Jafar Seif, has urged staff in the Department of Health, Social Welfare, and Nutrition to strengthen teamwork and accountability as part of national efforts to improve primary healthcare services.
Dr. Seif made the call in Dodoma during a working session with officials from the department, held at the Sokoine Conference Hall.
The meeting aimed at reinforcing responsible leadership and ensuring effective service delivery at regional and council levels.
“We must transform the way we work to support Minister Prof. Mdoe in achieving his goal of enhancing primary healthcare services across the country,” Dr. Seif said.
He appealed for full cooperation as he takes up his new responsibilities, stressing that his office will not entertain blame-shifting among staff. Instead, he encouraged open dialogue to address operational challenges and find solutions that support continuous service delivery.
“When challenges arise, we must approach them collectively and resolve them as a department so that our work does not stall,” he added.
Dr. Seif also reminded the team to uphold President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan’s directive that public servants should “deliver a smile” by providing quality, friendly, and timely services to citizens.
Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Health at PMO-RALG, Prof. Tumaini Nagu, assured Dr. Seif that the staff are ready to offer full support to enable him to execute his duties effectively.
She highlighted the significant strides made in recent years through government investment in the health sector.
According to Prof. Nagu, the Sixth-Phase Government has invested about TZS 1.34 trillion to expand and modernize health infrastructure.
The funds have supported the construction of new hospitals, rehabilitation of existing facilities, and procurement of essential medical equipment, all contributing to improved availability of primary healthcare services nationwide.
Director of Health, Social Welfare, and Nutrition, Dr. Rashid Mfaume, explained that the department’s mandate includes strengthening governance, conducting supportive supervision, and carrying out monitoring and evaluation.
He noted that the department also interprets sector guidelines, development policies, and financial strategies to facilitate effective implementation at all levels.
The session forms part of Dr. Seif’s ongoing efforts to enhance discipline, efficiency, and coordination among health professionals as the government seeks to ensure that primary healthcare remains accessible, reliable, and citizen-friendly.