Rotary International (RI) President-Elect Mário César Martins de Camargo (second right) signs on the foundation stone for Arusha’s first-ever Blood Bank at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital at a ceremony of launching the construction on May 13, 2025. Witnessing the historic moment are Arusha City Mayor Maximilian Iranqhe (right), Dr Alex Ernest, the hospital’s Doctor-in-Charge (left) and the Chairman of the committee to oversee the construction of the building from Rotary Club of Arusha Mount Meru, Mr Moses Mahuna (second left). The RI President-Elect was on an official one-day visit to Arusha to inspect Rotary projects in the region. (Photo by Paul Mzungute)
By The Arusha News Reporter
Arusha will soon have its first state-of-the-art Blood Bank facility to be constructed at a cost of Sh 680 million, marking a major step in strengthening emergency healthcare in Northern Tanzania.
The facility will be located at Mount Meru Referral Regional Hospital and is expected to drastically reduce delays in the supply of safe blood for transfusions.
“This is more than a building — it’s a commitment to saving lives,” said the President-Elect of Rotary International (RI), Mr Mário César Martins de Camargo, at the groundbreaking ceremony to lay the foundation stone on Tuesday. Rotary Club of Arusha Mount Meru (RCAMM) is facilitating the project.
He added: “By bringing this essential service closer to those who need it, we are strengthening both the local capacity and the health system of the entire region.” The ceremony was also attended by Arusha Mayor, Maxmillian Matle Iranqhe, Rotary leaders and members, among others.
The Chairman of the RCAMM Committee to oversee the project, Mr Moses Mahuna, said Arusha lacked a dedicated blood bank and all donated blood was inevitably transported over 80 kilometres to Moshi for testing and storage — a process that could take over a week and posed serious risks during emergencies such as childbirth complications, road traffic accidents and urgent surgeries, among others.
“Once the new blood bank is complete, it will significantly shorten the time between blood donation and transfusion, providing timely support in life-threatening situations,” he told the visiting Brazilian–Rotary International President-Elect who was on a one-day visit to Arusha to inspect key Rotary projects in the District.
RCAMM President, Mr Olais Alexander, said Mount Meru Hospital has allocated a 441-square-metre plot within its premises for the facility’s construction, made possible through collaboration with the Regional Commissioner’s office. The new facility will include a reception area for donors, blood testing laboratories, cold storage rooms and administration offices — all built to meet top medical and safety standards.
“The project will be funded through community contributions and local fundraising efforts such as RCAMM’s ‘Walk and Run’ campaign,” Mr Alexander added. Construction is expected to take ten months, with the facility scheduled to open early next year.
According to Mount Meru Hospital Medical Officer-in-Charge, Dr Alex Ernest, the completed blood bank will have the capacity to safely store 600 pints of blood, sufficient to meet the hospital’s current monthly needs of between 450 and 500 pints.
Earlier in the day, the RI President-Elect visited Themi Primary School, where he inspected 12 toilets built by the Rotary Club of Arusha and planted a commemorative tree.
The President of the Rotary Club of Arusha, Ms Linda Baas, told the RI President that the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) initiative began with 10 primary schools in Arusha and has since expanded to benefit 30 government schools. The project is now being extended to Mwanza.
