Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT has unveiled plans to construct three new hospitals and nine clinics in Makoni District, a move set to revolutionise healthcare access for rural communities.
The development, confirmed by authorities, is expected to significantly improve medical services in the district, addressing long-standing challenges faced by residents in accessing quality healthcare.
The hospitals, St Michael’s Mugoti in Makoni North and Monte Casino in Headlands, are being constructed by the Roman Catholic Church, with the latter being a private institution.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church is constructing its hospital at Nyazura Mission.
The three hospitals are strategically located to serve as referral centres, offering emergency, maternal, surgical, and inpatient services to nearby clinics.
Makoni District Medical Officer, Dr Tendai Nyafesa said the new hospitals will significantly reduce the distance patients travel to seek medical attention at Rusape General Hospital, while the new clinics are mainly being constructed in resettlement areas, which lack critical services, and other remote areas.
The clinics are Mapere, Rumano, Dewerwi, Mutiwegora in Makoni North, Mambudzi, Chiropa, Varlkoop in Headlands, and in Makoni South, there are Chimbike and Denzva.
The clinics are at various stages of construction, which are being spearheaded by Government, Makoni Rural District Council, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, and communities.
“The new hospitals and clinics will bring health services closer to the people, reducing the long distances many residents currently walk to reach basic care. Some communities in Makoni presently travel more than 15km to reach existing health centres, which is not recommended.
“Nyazura Mission Hospital is at foundation level, while St Michael’s is at resource mobilisation stage. In the past, there were plans to have four district hospitals at Makoni (Rugoyi) Clinic, St Michael’s Mugoti, Dewedzo, and Weya to serve local clinics with resident doctors. So the coming in of these new hospitals is a welcome development that will see communities getting medical attention closer to where they stay.
“This is in line with the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind in health provision,” said Dr Nyafesa.
Makoni Rural District Council Ward Three councillor, Councillor Evidence Mutuvharuvha said people of Makoni North have been waiting for long to have St Michael’s Mission Hospital constructed, and the community is mobilising over a million farm bricks and other locally available materials for the construction of the hospital.
“The construction of this hospital is a boost to the community’s health requirements for Makoni North and the surrounding communities.
“We face challenges accessing healthcare at Rusape General Hospital, which is very far from us. When we have our hospital, we are guaranteed that our health situation will improve.
“As the community, we were given the task to contribute 10 percent of the construction requirements. This will be in the form of bricks, pit sand, and concrete stones.
“We have 54 villages in wards three and 36, and we agreed that each village should contribute 25 000 bricks. Some bricks and other locally available building materials are now at the construction site. The first structures will be a theatre room and a doctor’s house,” she said.
