daniel chigunwe
Elliot Ziwira
Senior Writer
As you step into the Cowdray Park Health Centre, you will immediately be struck by the sense of hope and relief that permeates the air.
The hi-tech facility located in Cowdray Park, a high-density suburb about 17 kilometres south-west of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, was commissioned by President Mnangagwa in August 2023.
Bustling with patients, the waiting area is a convergence of feelings.
Some of the patients are looking anxious, while others are relieved to be receiving care.
Seated on cosy chairs lined-up along the neatly painted beige walls, some of them engage in low tones, while others simply gawk at new entrants or look into space.
Hiding behind facemasks, which everyone here is wearing, quite a number evade lip-reading. Their eyes betray them, though – the eyes are always the culprits – exposing inner joys and turmoil.
Authorities are not taking chances on the flu bug, which, though characteristic of winter, appears to hit hard this season.
The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, with friendly staff moving efficiently between rooms.
Efficiency here is astounding – no patient is kept waiting for long. A door here swallows some of them, another invites them there, while yet another gobbles a chunk elsewhere around this beacon of hope.
Three paces from the corner, with her back to a blue noticeboard, a young mother, clad in a red and black fur jacket, tightly holds her bundle of joy, wrapped in a pink baby blanket. She intently looks on, eyes glowing, as the baby receives immunisation shots.
In another ward, a youthful mother cradles her new-born, with pride as she gets postnatal care. Indeed, the joys of motherhood are unmatched, a discerning visitor soon realises.
Nearby, an elderly man sits patiently, his eyes fixed on the doctor attending to him.
As all this plays out, Bhekinhlala Moyo, a 42-year-old bus driver, sits alongside his brother Correth (55), on the right column beside one of the consultation rooms, his eyes sunken from months of struggling with tuberculosis.
Diagnosed with TB in 2014, Moyo, a local, has been in and out of hospital, struggling to manage his condition. The weather was particularly heavy on him around November last year, which prompted him to retreat to his rural home to contain it.
However, since coming to Cowdray Park Health Centre a month ago, he has received top-notch care and attention.
“This place has been a lifesaver,” Moyo’s brother, Correth, who has accompanied him, says, his voice filled with gratitude. “The costs of scans and other tests have been particularly burdensome on us. But here the fees are affordable, and the staff is so caring.
“We have already been assisted, so we are waiting to see a doctor. He has been complaining of back pain, with his condition deteriorating over the past month.”
Moyo hopes to fully recover soon and be able to resume work and fend for his family. Notwithstanding his weariness, there is a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he receives treatment.
Forty-year-old Lyneth Sithole, a visitor from Plumtree, is equally impressed.
“I visited my sister last week, and fell sick. The services offered here are world-class,” she says, adjusting her facemask.
“The warmth and professionalism of the staff is amazing. We’re treated warmly, despite not being resident here.”
Sikhanyile Tshabalala, a resident of Cowdray Park, smiles as she shares her experiences.
“This health centre has been a game-changer for our community,” she says.
“We don’t have to travel far or wait for hours to receive care.”
Meanwhile, forever curious, the never satiated eye is soon captured by man’s ability to fashion out his world into seamless beauty through sheer workmanship.
As you move through the institution, you are engulfed in the sense of community pervading every corner. Patients chat softly, sharing stories, and offering each other words of encouragement.
The staff moves with a sense of purpose, their faces reflecting their dedication to duty, even in times they would seem overwhelmed.
Josephine Moyo, the sister-in-charge, exudes pride as she shows off the facility on a recent media tour of the site.
“We’re so grateful for this centre,” she says, resplendent in her green and white uniform.
“It’s not just a building – it’s a symbol of hope and care for our community.”
Sister Moyo, highlights that the health centre serves a catchment area of 79 000 locals, which is at least 10 percent of the population of Bulawayo, and thousands more from surrounding areas.
“We offer a range of services, from maternity care and the essential programme on immunisation (EPI) for children from zero to five years, to chronic condition management,” she beamingly says.
“We have so far safely assisted around 115 mothers in delivering babies without complications. Our community is excited to have this modern healthcare centre at their doorstep.”
The maternity unit has been operational since December last year.
There are male and female wards, where patients are closely monitored for two days before being discharged or referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for further management, depending on their condition. An ambulance is on standby in case unforeseen hitches arise.
Today, there is only one patient in the male ward, and none in the female one.
Also, paediatrics, pre-natal and post-natal care offered at the centre provides exceptional experiences for residents of Cowdray Park.
A delivery room, theatre for operations such as Caesarean-Section, consultation rooms, an environmental room and guidance and counselling places, in addition to a laboratory as well as isolation wards, complete the flight for convenience.
On the roof, a TelOne employee is connecting a telephone line.
“Soon, the institution will have access to the internet,” Sister Moyo says.
Powered by a 24kva solar system, the centre operates around the clock, offering 24-hour services across its varied units.
The facility houses advanced equipment, including anaesthesia machines, X-ray machines, ultrasounds, and vital signs machines. It also has an incinerator.
To the east of the main building are two equally magnificent blocks of two-bedroomed houses each for accommodating staff.
Cowdray Park Health Centre is one of 30, 22-bed mini-hospitals and five 60-bed district hospitals being built across the country under the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s agreement with British contractor, NMS Infrastructure Limited.
Funded by the Government to the tune of US$210 million, the project aims to improve healthcare infrastructure and services nationwide.
Under the contract signed on September 13, 2019, NMS Infrastructure was tasked with designing, constructing and equipping the centres. Government has already paid US$23 million for the first and second phases of the project.
To mitigate challenges associated with access to healthcare, in September 2020, the President said Government had earmarked funds for the construction of 6 600 clinics across the country to ensure that no one travels more than 10 kilometres to reach a healthcare facility.
As the community continues to benefit from Cowdray Park Health Centre’s services, the staff appeals for more support, including deployment of radiographers, and additional nurses and midwives.
The centre also needs more space to provide privacy for patients with tuberculosis and other opportunistic infections.
Cowdray Park Health Centre has come in as a lifesaver to the communities within its environs and beyond.
In a conversation on the sidelines of a recent site tour, Bulawayo provincial medical director, Dr Maphios Siamuchembu, said the centre was one of a kind in the area; fully equipped with advanced machines.
He emphasised that access to healthcare was one of the fundamental rights for any populace.
Dr Siamuchembu, however, bemoans the gaps in placement of staff to critical areas like radiography and midwifery, among other key units, owing largely to brain drain.
In spite of the teething glitches, the health centre remains a beacon of hope for the people of Cowdray Park and yonder.
Its modern equipment, competent staff, and commitment to quality care make it a superb example of the milestones that can be achieved when the Government and community come together to improve healthcare provision for all citizens.
Online Reporter