HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The Health Department provides health services by coordinating all health activities in the Diocese, focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, and cure. It coordinates 8 health institutions — 1 hospital, 3 health centres, and 5 dispensaries — together with the Kabanga School of Nursing, and conducts outreach health services.
The health department’s vision is based on the belief that a human being is both body and soul. It would not be possible to save a person only spiritually while physically remaining tormented, in line with the Latin saying “Mens sana in corpore sano” — “a healthy mind in a healthy body.”
The Diocesan Health Office was established on 1st August 1998 as an independent department within the organizational structure of the Diocese, having previously been a section of Caritas Kigoma from 1st October 1995. It is led by the Diocesan Health Secretary, whose main function is to enhance and coordinate all health facilities and health-related activities in the Diocese so that they may have life in full (Jn 10:10).
Mission
A human being is both body and soul. It would be impossible to “heal” somebody spiritually while physically the same is traumatized. It is our mission to fulfil the call of Jesus Christ by providing health and spiritual services to the people in need through healing, for God’s glory.
Vision
A sustainable health care system rendered with the compassion of Christ, characterized by quality, equity, affordability, and respect for creation, resulting in healthy, happy, and peaceful communities.
Objectives & Activities
Since its establishment the department has been engaged in strengthening the existing health facilities through:
- Supportive supervision.
- Medical supply.
- Recruitment of qualified staff.
- Capacity building of Diocesan health workers through meetings, seminars, workshops, and upgrading courses.
- Rehabilitation of Diocesan health facility buildings.
- Construction of the Mulera Medical Operating Theatre, which is in its final stages.
Community Health Capacity Building
- Conducting education sessions on HIV/AIDS to 540 village leaders in nine villages in Manyovu.
- Community Home Based Care trainings in Kasulu and Buhigwe districts — caring for and supporting People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV).
Planned Activities
- Funds to complete the Mulera operating theatre.
- Funds for procuring a motor vehicle.
- Increase of the DHO budget to cater for staff salaries and running costs.
- Community health education in parishes and Diocesan institutions.
- HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases prevention for youth in 22 parishes.
- Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention for youth in Diocesan secondary schools.
- Essential requirements for Diocesan health facilities.
Health Institutions
Kabanga Referral Hospital
Kabanga Hospital is the referral hospital of the Diocese. For more information about the hospital, please visit kabangahospital.com.
Mulera Health Centre
Mulera Centre is located 135 km from Kigoma town and has a total of 29 beds. It provides supportive services such as a dental clinic, reproductive and child health clinic, tuberculosis, leprosy, and blood transfusion. Other health activities include visiting villages, visiting families with problems, school health, and health education. The Centre aims to decrease the number of deaths, secure solar power, and procure a gas refrigerator for the blood bank and water tanks.
Simon of Cyrene Dispensary (Musagara)
Musagara Dispensary, also known as St. Simon Cyrene Dispensary, is located in Kasulu district and started operating on 1st December 1995. It has 10 beds and provides supportive health services through its medical laboratory. Its achievements include serving an ever-increasing number of outpatients and the availability of a gas refrigerator.
Muhinda Dispensary
Muhinda Dispensary is based in Kasulu district and is registered by the Ministry of Health as a private dispensary under Part III of the Private Hospitals regulations. It currently has 17 beds, with plans to upgrade it to a health centre once funds and personnel are available.
Kasumo Dispensary
Kasumo Dispensary is located in Kasulu district, Kigoma region, about 130 km from Kigoma town. It was opened on 25th March 1965 and used to be a clinic for leprosy patients. In 1968 the number of leprosy patients increased to 400 from all around the region. From 1996 it was handed over to the Tanzania Tuberculosis/Leprosy National Program. Kasumo Dispensary currently serves a population of 5,596 people.
Dymphna Psychiatric Health Centre (Marumba)
The Marumba Mental Health Centre started on 15th February 2004 and was founded by Bishop Paul Ruzoka. Its catchment population is almost the whole of Kigoma region. As a congregation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kigoma, its mission is to care for human beings who need accompaniment to their human development, indiscriminately of origin, gender, belief, or financial means. The vision of the Brothers of Charity in the Marumba Mental Health Centre is the provision of social, physical, educational, and rehabilitation care to mental health patients, while sensitizing the community about mental health care to diminish stigma and discrimination.
Kiganza Dispensary
Kiganza Dispensary is based in Kigoma Rural district, 15 km from Kigoma town, and was started in February 2005. It was set up by the parishioners of Kiganza under the consultorship of Fr. Lucas Mashanya, the parish priest of Kiganza at the time, in response to the need for health services in Kiganza village.
Kakonko Dispensary
Kakonko Dispensary is located in Kakonko district, in the northern part of Kigoma region, 300 km from Kigoma town. It was founded by Jan van Sambeek in 1943 in response to the urgent need for health services in that area. The dispensary started providing curative, prevention, and maternity services in 1945.