Dorothy Sithole
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
A total of 200 village health workers from Gwanda District on Monday received bicycles in a development expected to enhance healthcare service delivery in remote communities.
The distribution of the bicycles is set to significantly improve access to healthcare services in previously marginalised areas, where long distances have often delayed timely interventions.
Village health workers who received the bicycles at Phakama Clinic said the initiative would greatly improve their operations. The bicycles were distributed under a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Buffalo Bicycles Zimbabwe.
Speaking on behalf of the Gwanda District Nursing Officer, Mrs Filter Sibanda, community health nurse Ms Thamsanqa Mangwangwa said the district has 350 village health workers, and the 200 bicycles would help bridge a major transport gap.
She said each village health worker is responsible for about 100 households, making it difficult to effectively cover the areas on foot.
“As a district we have 350 village health workers and today 200 will be receiving bicycles which is a major boost. VHWs are very critical in health delivery as they are a go between health institutions and the community. They carry crucial information from the clinics to communities and vice versa and they also treat minor ailments.
“They also carry out surveillance for diseases like diarrhoea, measles among others and report to health officials.
They do follow-ups on all clients, be it TB, HIV, chronic patients and many more. They also refer patients from the community to health facilities which ensures early diagnosis,” she said.
Village health workers in Zimbabwe play a critical frontline role in linking rural communities with healthcare services.
Their responsibilities include providing community-based health education, monitoring community health trends, distributing mosquito nets, and offering support for tuberculosis, chronic illnesses and other non-communicable diseases.
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