30 health centres built/revamped in the Midlands

GOVERNMENT has constructed 15 new clinics and refurbished 21 health facilities in the Midlands province as the Second Republic continues to accelerate the modernisation of the country’s public health system and improve access to health care services.

The Second Republic has been working around the clock to re-equip, upgrade hospitals and clinics as well as build new ones as it works to improve quality and access to health care services inline with Vision 2030.

The health care facilities, including six state-of-the-art Covid-19 isolation centres, were constructed while some were rehabilitated using devolution funds between January 2018 and December last year.

Under the NDS1, the building of world-class infrastructure and provision of key social services have been identified as key enablers for sustainable socio-economic development.

Hospitals and clinics have been built in all the eight administrative districts of the Midlands province.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Mr Abiot Maronge, said the devolution funds from Government have brought a lot of positive development for people in both urban and rural areas.

“The accelerated upgrade of public health system has seen old hospitals being refurbished, new wards being opened and new equipment being bought. A total of 15 clinics were built while a number of old ones were refurbished,” he said.

Mr Maronge said the new clinics constructed include Nyamatsito, Murunguziva and Katema in Gokwe North and South districts, Marira and Chireresi in Zvishavane district, Chimbindi, Doroguru, Hwata, Mudzinge in Chirumhanzu district, Madekwana and Zvanaka in Mberengwa district and Ruchanyu in Shurugwi district.

“Clinics renovated include Totonga in Shurugwi, Mapfungautsi and Gwanyika in Gokwe South, Marirazhombe and Chebvute in Mberengwa and Chinamasa in Gweru Rural. Pharmaceutical stores were established at Gokwe South, Zvishavane, Mberengwa and Mvuma district hospitals, Zvamabande and Jeka Rural Hospitals, Lower Gweru Mission Hospital, Masuka, Vumba and Nyare rural health centres,” he said.

Mr Maronge said Zibagwe RDC in Kwekwe district equipped the Sherwood Clinic executive ward with high-tech medical facilities.

He said the Clinic services the Sherwood Community with a catchment population of around 1 200 while.
Hwata Clinic in Chirumhanzu services 1 900 people.

“Mapfungautsi Poly Clinic in Gokwe town has eased pressure on Gokwe District Hospital which serves as a referral hospital for the two Gokwe districts. Urban communities can now access general health services and maternal health closer to their homes. The clinic serves an estimated population of 8 000 people,” said Mr Maronge.

Shurugwi Town Council’s Sebanga Polyclinic has a maternity ward which include the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) and the antiretroviral therapy (ART) centre.

Mr Maronge said work on some projects is ongoing and teams are on the ground to ensure that the projects are completed in the shortest possible time.

“Clinics under construction include Fafi and Langton in Kwekwe, Musena and Chapwanya in Chirumhanzu and Impala in Gweru,” he said.

Mr Maronge said Covid-19 Isolation Centres were established at Gweru Provincial Hospital, Claybank Hospital, Mkoba Teachers’ College, Gweru Polytechnic, Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre and Kwekwe Polytechnic College.

He said over 300 primary health facilities across the province are powered by solar as the province moves to promote clean energy.

Under the health and sanitation programme, Mr Maronge said, 58 piped water schemes were completed.
“A total of 24 water and sewer reticulation projects were also implemented using devolution funds,” he said.