Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
HUNDREDS of Buhera villagers received free Chinese traditional diabetes tea last Friday, courtesy of Investment Promotion for Economic Development, as part of a diabetes outreach programme reinforcing Government’s commitment to quality healthcare.
IPED partnered with Buhera North legislator, Honourable Phillip Guyo to implement the programme.
Honourable Guyo said the initiative aligns with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy, with healthy and productive population playing a crucial role in national development.
“Government, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa continues to prioritise health initiatives that uplift marginalised communities, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey towards prosperity.
“With strategic partnerships such as this one between IPED and myself as the Buhera North legislator, we are taking major strides in tackling non-communicable diseases and promoting public health awareness,” he said.
Honourable Guyo expressed satisfaction with the high turnout, saying people came in their numbers seeking medical attention, free diabetes testing and treatment.
About 300 villagers were attended to, with the majority being diagnosed with sugar diabetes, a condition that is increasingly affecting many elderly citizens in rural areas.
“I realised that a lot of the people in my constituency are elderly people who are at risk of having conditions like diabetes. My assumptions were proven right because of the 300 people from only two wards that attended, three-quarters of them tested positive for sugar diabetes. This means that a significant portion of our elderly population is battling this disease without adequate medical support. Therefore, the medical outreach was successful as we also distributed the Chinese Traditional Diabetes Tea – that will help them to manage the non-communicable disease,” he said.
Honourable Guyo said the outreach is just the beginning, and plans are already in motion to cascade it to every ward in his constituency.
Another medical outreach will be held at Chiweshe Clinic next week.
“Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, we are building a Zimbabwe where healthcare services are within reach for everyone, regardless of where they live. Vision 2030 is about ensuring that our people, particularly the vulnerable, have access to quality healthcare services. Through this programme, we are making that vision a reality. A healthy nation is a productive nation, and a productive nation is what will drive our economy forward,” he said.
The tea, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, is renowned for its ability to regulate blood sugar levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote overall well-being among diabetes patients.
Some villagers who received the tea expressed gratitude, saying they had never been exposed to alternative remedies that could potentially improve their condition.
Mr Tawanda Muparutsa (68) expressed joy and appreciation for the programme.
“I have been battling sugar diabetes for years, and it was difficult to manage the condition because of financial constraints. I cannot afford regular medication, so this tea is a blessing. I already feel better after taking it, and I hope it helps many others in my village,” he said.
Though the IPED chairlady, Ms Fely Mutsakani was not readily available for comment, she had this to say on her X handle (formerly Twitter): “I want to appreciate Honourable Guyo for the successful diabetes medical outreach. We should collaborate once again to make Buhera a better place and diabetic-free by 2030. IPED is actively contributing to betterment of our communities and working towards a prosperous Zimbabwe. We recognise the importance of improving healthcare in rural areas, and we are committed to expanding our reach by organising more outreach programmes and mobile medic cabins.”
Online Reporter