PANGANI, Tanga — Children and young people in Pangani District are set to benefit from improved healthcare following the inauguration of a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre, a Youth-Friendly Service Unit and climate-resilient infrastructure at Pangani District Hospital.
The facilities were inaugurated through a partnership between Amref Health Africa Tanzania, the Embassy of Ireland and the Government of Tanzania, under efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve access to essential services for children and young people.
The investment also includes a solar photovoltaic energy system and rainwater harvesting infrastructure designed to support the hospital’s operations and strengthen its resilience to climate-related challenges.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Nicola Brennan, said the success of the investment would ultimately depend on the quality of care provided to patients rather than the facilities themselves.
“What matters most is not just having a beautiful building, but what happens inside it,” she said.
Brennan said the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre would help ensure that babies and children receive the nutrition and healthcare they need to grow, develop intellectually and become productive members of their communities.
She added that Ireland was proud to support the initiative in partnership with Amref Health Africa Tanzania, Pangani District Council and the hospital’s management.
The Ambassador also underscored the importance of youth-friendly healthcare services, saying safe spaces were essential in enabling young people to discuss their challenges openly, access peer support and seek assistance without fear or discomfort.
Pangani District Commissioner Mwanaidi Rajabu welcomed the investment, describing it as an important contribution to improving healthcare services in the district.
She called for continued government support to ensure the facilities remain operational and deliver lasting benefits to children and young people.
“We appreciate this investment in the health of our community and call for continued government support to ensure these services benefit our children and young people for years to come,” she said.
Amref Health Africa Tanzania Country Director Dr Florence Temu said collaboration between the government and development partners was critical to improving access to quality healthcare and building stronger health systems.
“Together with government and our partners, we are strengthening health services to give every child and young person a healthier future,” she said.
The initiative is being implemented through the Afya Himilivu Project, funded by the Embassy of Ireland, which supports collaboration between government institutions, healthcare workers and communities to strengthen health services and build more resilient healthcare systems.
The project’s interventions in Pangani are expected to contribute to improved access to nutrition rehabilitation services, more appropriate healthcare for young people and better hospital infrastructure.
