MSD launch delivery pack with essential instruments

THE Medical Stores Department (MSD) on Wednesday launched its ‘Delivery Pack’ containing essential instruments required for child delivery. The pack includes cotton wool, mackintosh, maternity pad, oxytocin injection, four pairs of surgical gloves, surgical blade and umbilical cord clamp.

The contents are wrapped in a sterile field and supplied in an easy to open, sterile pack. MSD Director General, Mr Laurean Bwanakunu told reporters in Dar es Salaam that the pack will be available in all public hospitals and MSD community outlets at 21,000/-.

“Childbirth is a complex process and it is essential to remember to provide everything that is needed to ensure both mother and newborn child receive the safest care possible, we believe the pack is sold at affordable price,” he noted.

Mr Bwanakunu urged wellwishers who want to support women in the country, especially those in rural areas, to send their request at the store to procure the lifesaving pack. He also invited health facilities in the country to send their requests.

The DG also urged those who will procure the pack to make sure they send them to dispensaries or health centres instead of putting them in their private shops. Expounding further, he said the pack that was also in the National Health Insurance Fund list in private shops is sold between 55,000/- and 60,000/-, where among the instruments in the pack, the mackintosh, is sold at 13,700/-, which is considered to be of higher price than the others.

Meanwhile, MSD DG assured the community that availability of high priority list drugs including those available in MSD community outlet was 90 per cent. “Availability of these drugs in health centres is between 85 to 98 per cent, while availability of antiretroviral (ARV) and malaria medications is 100 per cent, contraceptives 67 per cent and tuberculosis and leprosy medication is 63 per cent,” he said.