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Conrad Mupesa, Mashonaland West Bureau
For years, residents of Wards 26 and 28 in Chegutu district endured the hardship of travelling long distances for medical care. The absence of a nearby healthcare facility led to tragic losses, including the deaths of unborn babies and expecting mothers.
Without a clinic in their vicinity, some succumbed, as adequate health care was elusive.
Surveys indicate that clinics serve expecting mothers, children under the age of five and people with HIV/AIDS more than any other patients.
The unavailability of a primary healthcare facility also complicated the health of expecting mothers.
Chegutu, being a mining area, also saw many artisanal miners who were involved in work-related accidents having to travel long distances to access medical attention.
Chegutu Rural District Council (RDC)faced a daunting challenge: providing quality healthcare services to its communities while struggling with limited resources.
The council’s core business, as outlined in the country’s Constitution, was to deliver healthcare services, but it was caught between serving all wards under its jurisdiction.
The situation was dire, with deaths and health complications rising due to the lack of accessible healthcare facilities.
Apart from healthcare, the council also had burning issues to meet which included providing clean and safe water, passable roads, and conducive and close-by learning facilities in line with Vision 2030. All these had to be financed from the council’s shoestring budget.
But devolution funds came in handy, providing the cash-strapped council with funds to build a new clinic to serve wards 26 and 28, and those within its precincts.
For Mr Clive Chirasamhuru, the newly established Munemo Clinic in Ward 26 along the Selous-Turf road came as a lifesaver.
Mr Chirasamhuru had heard of news from his village of women having complicated pregnancies with many losing unborn babies along the way.
A young father of two, the new clinic saved his wife and their last-born son.
In the past, his wife would have travelled close to 15 kilometres to deliver, but not any more.
“I am happy that my wife delivered at the clinic without any complications. Many families lost their unborn babies due to complications as there was no clinic nearby,” he said.
The absence of a clinic saw elderly women help expecting mothers deliver but, this came with its own consequences.
Gogo Lindiwe Marufu commended the construction of the clinic saying, “Its inception has not only saved expecting mothers and children but the elderly who battle chronic diseases”.
She is diabetic.
“I come here frequently to get my BP and diabetes checked because it is very close. Before it was established, I would rely on guessing whether my two conditions were within the expected range,” said the 74-year-old.
Her granddaughter also gave birth at the facility recently, another reason to smile.
“I used to help expecting mothers deliver but it was risky on my part and them as well. When this clinic was introduced, I felt a huge sigh of relief as it meant that I and other elderly women in the area would not risk unborn babies and their mothers’ lives,” she added.
The clinic is expected to attend to over 10 000 people.
Katawa village head, Mr Hebert Chipiri, lauded President Mnangagwa for providing devolving the funds to communities.
“We are grateful to the President for the devolution funds.
“We now have a clinic in our area which is going to save many lives,” he said.
Ms Emily Mapondera, who is a hypertension and diabetic patient, was walking long distances to get to the nearest clinic.
“I don’t have a BP or glucometer testing machine, so I rely on the ones at clinics, previously the nearest clinic was far away so this new clinic is going to help me a lot,” she said.
Chegutu RDC also constructed and commissioned two new clinics in Wards 22 and 23, whose completion ended nightmares of over 40 000 villagers walking a minimum distance of 40 kilometres to access health care.
Chegutu RDC chief executive officer, Mr Admire Machingura, lauded Government for the financial assistance through Devolution Funds.
“I am glad to announce that the clinic we have constructed using devolution funds is now playing its role of saving lives.
“We started construction works in 2022 and managed to commission it last year. Among other things, the facility is equipped with male and female wards, maternity wards, outpatient, and the dispensary section. It is also equipped with all the required equipment,” he said.
A borehole and solar power have been installed at the health facility which also has a perimeter fence to protect patients and workers from intruders and livestock.
The clinic also has a nutrition garden.
The council’s social services manager, Mr Tawanda Kangai, said the construction of the clinic was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1.
“Our communities have been travelling long distances to access health care and as a council, we have been failing to meet our end.
“We are grateful to the Devolution Funds that have gone a long way in the procurement of building material and other expenses for the three clinics.”
Other healthcare facilities that have been constructed include Danangwe Clinic which brought excitement to the villagers in Wad 22. The villagers also showered the Second Republic with plaudits adding, the move had ended their 20-year misery of walking at least 23 kilometres to access the nearest health centre.
Chegutu RDC received over ZiG 60 million from its 2021 annual allocation of Devolution Funds, with almost half going to the construction of clinics, while the remainder was used to purchase a grader and a roller.
A Ward 22 village health worker Ms Lynette MConstruction of the clinic was done by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Inkomo Mechanised Brigade artisans, while the community availed bricks and other required manual labour.
Former Ward 22 councillor, Alderman Joseph Mashona, who organised community members to mobilise bricks towards the clinic’s construction, said they had been in the area without a proper health care facility for the past 20 years.
At least 100 people are attended to daily at the institution which also opened a maternity ward recently.
Apart from the Government’s financial assistance, various players have also chipped in to ensure that healthcare is accessed.
In a significant corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, platinum mining giant Zimplats has successfully installed solar energy systems for water pumping and lighting at some clinics in the district.
Online Reporter