Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
THE first day of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s medical outreach programme at Nemanwa Grounds in Masvingo was highly subscribed, with people of all ages turning up for free medical services.
The strong turnout reflects the continued reach of her programmes, bringing essential healthcare services closer to communities and advancing the philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
The outreach is being conducted by Dr Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation in conjunction with Zimbabwe Care and will run for six days, with people from all seven administrative districts in Masvingo visiting Nemanwa until Tuesday next week for free medical services.
Patients will receive treatment for various ailments and access other medical services, including cancer screening and HIV and AIDS testing, as the Mother of the Nation continues the warpath against both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Dr Mnangagwa is expected to officiate at the programme.
A total of 21 medical doctors, including specialists in various areas, are taking part in the medical outreach, alongside scores of nurses.
Mr Honest Nhete of Shindi Village in Barahanga waits in the queue to be attended to during the first day of First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s medical outreach in Masvingo Rural.
Ten of the doctors are foreign medical personnel from other countries, including some from America, who have come to support Dr Mnangagwa’s initiative.
A capacity crowd of people from various corners of the province, including Gutu, Chivi and Bikita, started gathering at Nemanwa Grounds on Thursday morning, keeping the team of medical experts busy throughout the day despite the cold weather accompanied by incessant showers.
Those seeking medical assistance braved the cold and rain and came in numbers to benefit from the First Lady’s helping hand.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira visited Nemanwa Grounds, where he interacted with health experts and patients of all ages, including the elderly who were suffering from different ailments.
He hailed First Lady Dr Mnangagwa and President Mnangagwa for continuously working to improve the lot of ordinary people across all corners of Zimbabwe.
“We are very happy with what we have witnessed here today on the first day of First Lady Dr Mnangagwa’s medical outreach programme that will run for six days here at Nemanwa Grounds in Masvingo district.
“The programme will reach a crescendo on Sunday when the First Lady herself is expected to come here to witness what will be taking place as she continues with her work to make sure underprivileged Zimbabweans, including those from remote areas, have access to free health services, including treatment for both communicable and non-communicable diseases,” said Minister Chadzamira.
“There are many services that are being offered here by a dedicated team of doctors, thanks to the First Lady and the President. Some people are getting screened for cancer, while others are being tested for HIV and diabetes so that those who have problems can start medication, and all this is being done for free.”
Minister Chadzamira also commended the First Lady for prioritising the health of all Zimbabweans irrespective of their background, noting that the sterling work being done by Dr Mnangagwa is in sync with the Second Republic’s drive to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income society.
“Access to health is very important in the matrix of development and every day more than 2 000 people from all corners of Masvingo province will be attended to until this programme ends.
“The only exception will be on Sunday when a bigger number of people is expected since it is also the day the First Lady will be here in person.”
He paid tribute to a team of medical experts from within and outside Zimbabwe who are leading the medical outreach, saying that their sacrifices to assist the disadvantaged battling various health challenges should be applauded.
Masvingo district medical officer under the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Onward Tendaupenyu also thanked the First Lady for conceiving the medical outreach and confirmed that thousands of people with various ailments are being attended to daily over the duration of the exercise.
“All conditions are being seen, from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes to services such as screening for cervical cancer, prostate cancer and HbA1c for men.
Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira (centre), Masvingo District Medical Officer Dr Onward Tendaupenyu and a Zimbabwe Care team member discuss at the first day of First Lady’s medical outreach at Nemanwa Grounds.
“We are also seeing acute conditions like arthritis, and people are being given medications.
“There are also services such as mental health screening, drug and substance screening and general counselling.”
According to Dr Tendaupenyu, the programme would run until October 6.
“We have 21 medical doctors, and 10 are from outside the country, with the rest being from Masvingo district and the provincial hospital. The Zimbabwe National Army is also assisting us with medical personnel,” he added.
Mr Dylan Day, a medical assistant with Zimbabwe Care, expressed delight that the First Lady was bringing health services closer to the people of rural Masvingo.
“It is good to be here in rural Masvingo, where I am working as an assistant under Zimbabwe Care during this medical outreach, where we are extending free medical services to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. I think it’s a good exercise, and I want to thank the First Lady Dr Mnangagwa for spearheading this initiative,” he said.
Part of the people waiting to be attended to at Nemanwa Grounds.
This was corroborated by Mr Thomas Breeze, who is also under the Zimbabwe Care banner and travelled all the way from the US state of Utah, accompanying his wife, a medical doctor who is part of a team of 10 foreign medical experts involved in the outreach.
“I am happy to be here. Of course, I am not a medical expert or specialist, but I am just helping with what I can to make sure people who need medical assistance are able to get it. I am happy to assist my wife, who is a medical doctor, so that she can assist as many needy people as possible. It is really good to be here,” said Mr Breeze.
Gogo Ipaishe Shuro from Shuro Village in Chiwara, Gutu, said she travelled all the way from her home to access free medical services.
“I have nagging pain in one of my knees, and I decided to come here after I heard there was this outreach that was organised for us by the First Lady Dr Mnangagwa, the Mother of the Nation. I hope to get a diagnosis for my troublesome leg and get treated once and for all so that I can walk normally again because I cannot afford to pay for specialist medical services on my own,” said the 80-year-old granny.
As for Mr Honest Nhete from Shindi Village in Barahanga near Morgenster Mission, the First Lady’s medical outreach was his last hope to get treatment for a troublesome growth on his head that he had lived with for 30 years.
“I just hope and pray that I will be able to get assistance from the medical experts here because I cannot afford to raise money to pay specialists around. I want to thank the First Lady for this initiative, as it will help more Zimbabweans in a similar situation to mine,” said Mr Nhete.
