Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
OVER 800 Bulawayo residents, including people with disabilities and the elderly, have received free medical check-ups and medication offered at the Brian Samuriwo Foundation health expo that ended on Wednesday last week.
For the past five weeks, every Wednesday, senior Bulawayo residents and people with disabilities have been converging at various centres where they were assisted by a team of doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
Each of the centres served as a central point where residents from suburbs across Bulawayo converged for the health expo.
The expo was concluded in Nguboyenja suburb on Wednesday and figures from the organising team showed that on average a centre attracted more than 160 residents.
“We are pleased with the huge turnout at the health expos since we spread the programme to all corners of the city. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of communities across Bulawayo and we are happy that over 800 people received the much- needed medical assistance,” said Cde Brian Samuriwo, the founder of the foundation who is funding the expo.
“Through our work as a foundation, which includes expanding access to healthcare, we have brought free medical services to vulnerable groups that include elderly, pensioners, widows and people with disabilities who often struggle to meet their health needs.”
Cde Samuriwo said the health expo was motivated by the need to give back to the communities that continue to support his businesses.
“Bulawayo residents support our businesses, which include the KoSamuriwo Pub and Grill, so there is no better way for us to thank them than by providing free medical care,” he said.
Cde Samuriwo encouraged other local businesses to play their part in assisting residents with vital social services such as health, education and creation of nutritional gardens, among others.
Zanu-PF Bulawayo Provincial chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda said the ruling party leadership was instrumental in persuading local businesses to give back to communities.
Initially the health expo catered for residents of Luveve and Emakhandeni suburbs, the two suburbs where Zanu-PF politician Cde Samuriwo began his political career.
“As party leadership in Bulawayo Province we noticed that the Brian Samuriwo Foundation was making a huge impact in the Luveve/Emakhandeni constituency where it was initially launched,” said Cde Sibanda.
He said they then asked Cde Samuriwo, in his capacity as the chairman of the party business committee to mobilise more resources and spread the health expo to all suburbs in the city.
“Every Bulawayo elderly citizen is welcome to receive free medical service regardless of political affiliation. The health of our elderly is very important to us and we will continue seeking ways to assist them,” said Cde Sibanda.
On Wednesday scores of elderly residents converged at the Jairos Jiri Centre where the foundation’s team was providing free medical service.
Area co-ordinator for the health expo, Mr Haback Masvaure, said the Jairos Jiri Centre was the ideal venue for the event as they wanted people living with disabilities to come in their numbers.
“People living with disabilities feel at home here at the Jairos Jiri Centre where it was also easier to spread the message about the event using the already existing communication channels at the centre.
“We are happy that they came in their numbers to access free medical check-ups and medication,” he said.
“Young people living with disabilities who are also students at Jairos Jiri Centre were also part of the people that were assisted by the team,” said Mr Masvaure.
McLean Thembo (20), a student at the centre said he was given diabetes medication.
“I’m from Hwange and I depend on my relatives for my diabetes medication, which they send every month. I was given medication that will last another month and I’m grateful for that,” said Mr Thembo.
