Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba has laid the foundation stone for the Butiama Kizurira Nyerere District Hospital in Butiama District, Mara Region, marking another step in government efforts to strengthen healthcare services across the country.
The hospital is being constructed to improve access to medical services for residents of Butiama and nearby areas, who previously travelled long distances to reach district hospitals in other areas.
According to project information presented to the Prime Minister, the Butiama District Council has so far received 3.66 billion/- for the construction of the facility.
The funds have been provided by the Central Government alongside the council’s own internal revenue.
The project is being implemented under the Force Account system, with several buildings already completed and others at various stages of construction.
Completed facilities include the outpatient department (OPD), laboratory, emergency unit, theatre, maternity ward, and a hospital waste incinerator.
Ongoing works include the administration block, male and female wards, radiology unit, pharmacy store, and laundry building.
Speaking during the event, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Dr. Festo Dugange, said the Sixth Phase Government has continued to prioritize investment in health infrastructure to improve service delivery nationwide.
He noted that in 2020, Tanzania had only 55 district council hospitals since independence, but in the past six years, 129 new district hospitals have been constructed.
This expansion has enabled all 184 councils in the country to have hospitals equipped with improved and modern facilities.
Dr. Dugange further said the government has allocated 500 million/- in the 2026/2027 financial year to complete remaining construction works at Butiama District Hospital, ensuring full service delivery begins as planned.
Once fully completed, the hospital is expected to strengthen healthcare services, including outpatient care, surgery, maternal and child health, laboratory services, radiology, physiotherapy, and other essential treatments.
The facility is also expected to reduce referrals to hospitals outside the district, easing the burden on patients and improving access to quality healthcare for residents.
