Tanzania's Zanzibari president commends China for building residential quarters for medical personnel

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibari President Hussein Ali Mwinyi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the construction of residential quarters for medical personnel of the Abdulla Mzee hospital on Pemba Island, part of the Zanzibar Archipelago.

President Mwinyi said the apartments being built by the Zhengtai Group from east China's Jiangsu Province will greatly relieve the hospital's medical personnel who reside far from the hospital.

He laid the foundation stone for the construction of the apartments as part of commemorative activities ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Zanzibar revolution, which occurred on Jan. 12, 1964.

"This housing construction project undertaken by the Chinese government will supplement the Zanzibar government's efforts to improve the health sector," he said. "The construction of the apartments for the medical personnel in district hospitals will motivate them to work hard and be able to respond fast to emergency cases."

According to Zhengtai Group, the residential quarters will consist of four blocks with 76 apartments, and supportive facilities including a canteen and a gymnasium.

"This project of building workers' apartments near the hospital is of great importance as it will reduce the distance for workers to get to work and improve health services for citizens," he said, who also expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for supporting the achievements of Tanzania.