Chronicle EditorRobin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE Government has completed the construction of 47 health facilities since 2018 as it gears to improve access to health care and ease the pressure on existing facilities that have been overwhelmed by a growing populace, and aging.
Several existing projects dotted around the country have also been face lifted, an official said. Ministry of Health and Child Care public relations manager Mr Donald Mujiri gave an insight into the projects done so far since the ushering in of the New Dispensation.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s role is to co-ordinate the construction and rehabilitation, refurbishment of health facilities in the country. During the period 2018 to date, the New Dispensation made significant achievements in the development of health infrastructure ranging from the construction of new health facilities to rehabilitation, refurbishment of existing infrastructure. In view of the above, a total of 47 health facilities were constructed and completed, 94 projects are under renovation, rehabilitation to completion,” he said.
Mr Mujiri said one of the major projects also under construction in the country is the Lupane Provincial Hospital in Matabeleland North. He said the hospital will offer the region easy access to health facilities
Some patients in the province were traveling from as far as Binga to hospitals in Bulawayo to access medical care but the completion of the Hospital will see patients getting assistance nearer in Lupane. This situation was putting a strain on Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals which have been serving as referral institutions for Matabeleland North and South.
“The construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital is in progress as follows: central stores is at 59,37 percent, pharmacy 59,96 percent, casualty 52,97 percent, Out Patient Department 34,33 percent, administration block 35,52 percent, junior staff house 51,37 percent, maternity block 19,33 percent, surgical ward 4,58 percent, paediatric ward at 5,93 percent, dental, eye clinic 5,42 percent, kitchen 8,33 percent, substation 2,69 percent, antenatal 0,39 percent and the post-natal department is at 0,35 percent complete,” he said.
Last year the government allocated $47 million for the completion of the Lupane Provincial Hospital. In a bid to ensure that the health facilities have power and access to clean and safe water consistently, the ministry said a total of 1 074 health facilities were installed with solar power, and 201 health facilities have benefited from a borehole water project.
Mr Mujiri said the Ministry of Health and Child Care is working with various partners in order to achieve its goal of providing access to health care facilities in the various provinces.
“Important to note is that the construction of health facilities is done by different partners and stakeholders. Some of the key partners involved in the construction and rehabilitation, refurbishment of health facilities include Rural District Councils, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Members of Parliament, Church organisations, the Zimbabwe National Army, and the Airforce of Zimbabwe, and many others,” he added.
— @NyembeziMu
Bongani Ndlovu