Engineers at the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital have successfully restored 51 beds and 20 cabinets that had been decommissioned due to wear and damage, bringing the equipment back into service for patient care.
These items had previously been stored away after being deemed unfit for use by the hospital.
Dr. Godlove Mbwanji, Executive Director of the hospital, praised the engineering department for their resourcefulness, emphasizing that this initiative has saved the government substantial funds that would have been spent on acquiring new equipment.
He explained that the hospital initially had 80 damaged beds, of which 51 have been refurbished, along with 20 out of 31 broken cabinets. This brings the total to 71 pieces of equipment successfully restored for use.
“This is a significant achievement. If we calculate the potential cost of new equipment, it’s clear that we’ve saved a lot of money. It highlights the crucial role of having an internal engineering department,” said Dr. Mbwanji.
Engineer Immabaraka Shadafa, from the engineering department, elaborated that the damaged items were initially written off, but the department saw an opportunity to repair them and avoid the expense of purchasing replacements.
“These items were worn out and marked as unusable, but with the expertise of our engineering team, we’ve managed to restore them for continued use,” said Engineer Shadafa.
Chief Nurse Petro Seme also commended the hospital’s engineering department and leadership, noting that the refurbished equipment would alleviate shortages, particularly in high-demand areas, ensuring improved patient care.
“We’re very grateful for these refurbished items, and we’ll make full use of them, especially in areas where there has been a pressing need for such equipment,” said Seme.