SUZA inaugurates new School The State University of Zanzibar has at its 2013/2014 academic year opened a new

chapter by inaugurating a new school. The newly inaugurated School is that of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS). Honourable Ali Juma Shamuhuna, the Minister of Education and Vocational Training of the Zanzibar government officiated the opening ceremony at Vuga Campus in Stone Town on 22nd October, 2013. Inaugurating the new School, Hon. Shamuhuna pointed out that this will to large extent help reducing the problem of shortage of skilled health personnel in Zanzibar.

Hon. Shamuhuna addresses the participants during the inauguration ceremony

The government took deliberate initiative of building hospitals and health centres all over Zanzibar, urban and rural areas intending to provide its people with favourable health services but a big challenge hindering this good intention for a long time remains to be lack or shortage of experienced workforce to serve in them, said Hon. Shamuhuna. He added that, in trying to overcome this problem, the government has been reliant on foreign medical doctors mainly those from the Peoples Republic of China but now following the introduction of this School here in Zanzibar there is a big hope ahead to wipe out the problem and consequently turn out Zanzibar to be the nucleus of medical human resources in the eastern Africa region. Hon. Shamuhuna informed that the government will provide a 100% loan to support the academic environment for all students admitted in the School of Health and Medical Sciences.

A cross section of participants

He however reminded that Zanzibar will continue to be grateful for the historical and remarkable contribution made by the medical workforce from Cuba and the Peoples Republic of China.

On his side, Dr. Saleh Jiddawi, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health said that now it is obvious that the aspiration of Zanzibar to develop into self-satisfaction in terms of health workers is about to attest reality. He said that the students who are now studying at the Zanzibar College of Health Sciences will recently join the State University of Zanzibar. Earlier, Prof. Idris Rai, the Vice Chancellor of the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) said the intention of his University is to ensure that it is going to eliminate the chronic shortage of medical doctors in Zanzibar. He said that in the next decade Zanzibar will have an adequate number of these experts hence reduce the dependence of them from overseas. SUZA has admitted 55 students who will be studying for six years spending much time in learning by doing (practical) in hospitals and health centres. The students will be using the laboratories and clinical infrastructure of the Ministry of Health which will provide close collaboration with SUZA. The Cuban professors and some local experts will run the training, Prof. Rai added.

A group photo of the members from the high table, academicians, health sector officials and the first batch of Doctor of Medicine degree programme admitted students

Act No. 8 of 1999, Article 20 of the House of Representatives establishes and mandates the State University of Zanzibar to establish various new Schools including the School of Health and Medical Sciences. Apart from SHMS, other Schools which were earlier established are the School of Kiswahili and Foreign Languages (SKFL), the School of Natural and Social Sciences (SNSS), the School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE) and the School of Education (SOE).