MCW Global Hands Over Community Center to Songea Municipal Council
Land to be used for a District Hospital
SONGEA, Tanzania / NEW YORK, NY, November 23, 2018 – MCW Global, in partnership with its local partner organization, MC-Tanzania, announced the transfer of its community center, which includes a community hall, library, dental clinic, and housing units, to the Municipal Council of Songea. The center covers approximately 50 acres and is valued at more than $500,000 USD (Tsh 1.2 billion).
“This land has a dental clinic and community development programs that have benefited the people of Songea,” said MC-Tanzania board chair, Honorable Halima Mamuya during the hand-over at the site on October 23, 2018. “We believe the government will further develop this land in terms of health programs and we promise to continue working with [them] to ensure good services, specifically dental services, continue to be offered.”
Abdul Mshaweji, Mayor of the Songea Municipality, said: “I understand that you developed this land with the aim of reducing health related diseases, which are a huge burden to our country.” He continued, “Our plan is to develop this land into a district hospital in the future. The government currently gives Tsh. 400 million to build one health facility on a ward level. So, the value of land that you have given us is equivalent to building three health facilities in the Songea Municipality. We are truly thankful for this support to the government.”
MCW Global opened the center in Kipera, a forty-minute walk from downtown Songea, in 2005. The land was donated to the organization by former District Commissioner, Bertha Mende. The Commissioner had invited MCW Global’s co-founders to the region in 2003 to explore different opportunities for youth engagement and community development.
In partnership with the Songea Municipal Council, MCW Global opened the Liana Cohen Dental Clinic on the site in 2005. Staffed by a municipal-employed dental therapist and an attendant, the clinic was one of only a few fully-equipped dental facilities in the country. Henry Schein Cares, the corporate responsibility program of Henry Schein, Inc., donated equipment and supplies to the clinic. Over the next 13 years, dozens of dentists and dental students from around the world traveled to the clinic to deliver free dental outreach services to the community.
The community center also offered a wide-range of projects that were initiated and led by both MCW Global and the community, including IT training, farming classes, a nutrition program, literacy programs, English classes, and childcare.
In partnership with MCW Global, MC-Tanzania currently works with a wide range of global and local partners to help build the capacity of health professionals to tackle the oral health workforce shortage. To make this happen, the program focuses on (1) Capacity upgrades at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) Dental School in Dar es Salaam; and, (2) Dental Outreach Training in the Mbeya and Tanga regions.
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Press coverage in Swahili
• “MCT and 1.2 Billion Tanzanian Shilling Transfer,” Ruvuma TV (Video), October 23, 2018.
• “MCT handed over a project worth TSH 1.2 billion to Songea Municipal Council,” Ruvuma TV (Blog) October 23, 2018.
• “MCT handed over a project worth TSH 1.2 billion to Songea Municipal Council,” Malunde 1 Blog, October 23, 2018.
About Us
MCW Global is a non-profit organization with a vision for communities around the world to achieve greater levels of education, improved health, and increased economic security. Our mission is to address communities’ pressing needs by empowering current leaders and readying leaders of tomorrow. Founded in 1999, MCW Global is based in New York with partner organizations in Africa (Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia). MCW Global offers Young Leaders and Africa Programs (Oral Health and Community Development). Across all our programs and activities, we seek to act with integrity, compassion, accountability, responsibility, and excellence. www.mcwglobal.org | @mcwglobal
