Finally, an island community won't need a boat ride to see a doctor. Zanzibar's Second Vice President Hemed Suleiman Abdulla laid the foundation stone for the Tumbatu Health Centre, a project set to end risky sea travel for over 18,000 residents. The 6.4 billion shilling facility, funded by the Zanzibar government and built by Simba Developer Ltd, is scheduled for completion in March 2026. It will provide critical services like maternal care, emergency treatment, surgery, and diagnostics around the clock. Officials stated the move fulfills campaign promises and reflects a wider push to upgrade healthcare infrastructure across the islands.
The Vice President directed the Health Ministry to hire local youth and ensure proper staffing and ambulances for continuous emergency coverage. He stressed that the government is focusing on building regional hospitals and renovating key sites like Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Permanent Secretary Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji outlined the centre's planned capacity for more than thirty inpatients, listing services from outpatient care to an operating theatre. He connected the project to broader priorities of modern infrastructure, skilled workers, reliable supplies, and digital health systems.
During the ceremony, which marked the Zanzibar Revolution anniversary, leaders also called for community cooperation to protect the new infrastructure. North Unguja Regional Commissioner Cassian Gallos Nyimbo used the moment to request district status for Tumbatu Island, citing its growing population and need for expanded services. He further pushed for a new modern market to stimulate local trade, linking economic development directly to improved community health and stability.
The Vice President directed the Health Ministry to hire local youth and ensure proper staffing and ambulances for continuous emergency coverage. He stressed that the government is focusing on building regional hospitals and renovating key sites like Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Permanent Secretary Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji outlined the centre's planned capacity for more than thirty inpatients, listing services from outpatient care to an operating theatre. He connected the project to broader priorities of modern infrastructure, skilled workers, reliable supplies, and digital health systems.
During the ceremony, which marked the Zanzibar Revolution anniversary, leaders also called for community cooperation to protect the new infrastructure. North Unguja Regional Commissioner Cassian Gallos Nyimbo used the moment to request district status for Tumbatu Island, citing its growing population and need for expanded services. He further pushed for a new modern market to stimulate local trade, linking economic development directly to improved community health and stability.
