UTETE, Oct. 5 -- THE Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa has laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Pwani Regional Referral Hospital and Samia Suluhu Hassan College of Health, a project expected to ease the burden of patients travelling long distances to access specialised medical services.

Speaking during the laying of the foundation stone ceremony, Minister Mchengerwa said the hospital will bring specialist health services closer to residents of Pwani and neighbouring areas, including Mafia, where distance has for years posed a major challenge in accessing advanced medical care.

According to the health minister, some residents from Pwani are currently forced to travel to referral hospitals in other regions, with peop...