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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has allocated $10 million towards the construction of district hospitals in Bulilima and Umzingwane to improve access to health services in Matabeleland South Province.
Presenting a social services and poverty reduction subcommittee report during a Provincial Development Committee meeting on Thursday, the subcommittee’s chairperson, who is also Matabeleland South provincial social welfare officer, Mr Totambirepi Tirivavi, said the projects are expected to start this year.
“The Government has allocated $5 million for the construction of a district hospital in Bulilima and another $5 million towards construction of a district hospital in Umzingwane.
“In Bulilima this project is still at a preliminary stage as a site is yet to be identified,” he said.
“This project is expected to kick start soon as it will bring a huge relief to the people of Bulilima. People from the district rely on Plumtree District Hospital which falls under Mangwe District.
“People from the furthest part of Bulilima are forced to walk long distances to reach Plumtree District Hospital and therefore construction of this hospital will ease their burden.”
Mr Tirivavi said a number of clinics were under construction within the province in a bid to improve access to health services.
He said most of the projects were being implemented in Bulilima District as community initiatives.
In an interview, Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Rudo Chikodzore, said there is a serious need for district hospitals in Bulilima and Umzingwane Districts.
She said the hospital under Umzingwane located in Esigodini does not have the capacity and services of a district hospital.
Dr Chikodzore said Bulilima has two rural hospitals.
“There are still deliberations on whether to upgrade one of the two rural hospitals in Bulilima namely Lady Stanley and Lady Bering or to get land to build from scratch.
“In Umzingwane there is Esigodini Hospital which is small and also needs upgrading.
“These hospitals don’t have major services offered by district hospitals such as a theatre and as a result they transfer patients,” she said.
“It’s important that these areas get proper district hospitals as health services are essential to the public.
“The resources at Plumtree District Hospital are not enough to cater for two districts and eventually the hospital becomes overwhelmed.”
Dr Chikodzore said plans are underway to upgrade Beitbridge, Gwanda and Plumtree District Hospital Mortuaries in order to improve their capacity.
She said these hospitals were along the highway and their mortuaries have no capacity to handle many bodies in case of major accidents.
Bulilima Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Brown Ncube, said some villagers in Bulilima were forced to travel about 200 kilometres to reach Plumtree District Hospital. — @DubeMatutu
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