BY JUMBE ISMAILLY
Firms contracted to supply food to the Sukamahela old people’s camp in Manyoni district, Singida region, have yet to be paid 124,267,880/= for the service.
The centre also accommodates people suffering from leprosy and children living under difficult condition.
The acting Singida Regional Social Welfare Officer, Fatuma Malenga, said the suppliers have not been paid from 2011 to 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
However, she admitted that the Treasury has taken too long to process their payments.
She mentioned the suppliers (with the amount not paid in brackets) as Mpangalimi General Supplies (87,952,880/-) and Muhina Tulangoma (36, 315, 000/-.
Malenga explained that food availability at the centre was poor because suppliers wanted the government to settle their bills first.
“Suppliers have stopped supplying food until their outstanding bills are settled…they don’t respond to any of our requests,” she said, appealing to the government to hasten the payment process.
She further said that they have been forced to suspend health services at the camp dispensary because of lacking medicine and staff, adding:
“We are keeping old people here and yet we are short of drugs. Urgent measures are needed to tackle the problem because these people need medical services daily.”
For his part, senior officer of the camp, Fredrick Mboya, said it accommodates 148 people with various social problems. He said the number was too big compared to initial plans when it was established in 1974.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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