Chimango clinic a major relief for Mudzi villagers

Victor Maphosa Mash East Bureau

NOW that Mudzi Rural District Council has completed constructing Chimango Clinic in Ward 4 using devolution funds, with all the equipment and furniture needed now in place, villagers from that Ward are appealing for Government to speed up the opening of the clinic for their benefit.

Located about 40 kilometres North of Mudzi Growth Point, the clinic on its opening, will bring a major relief to villagers in Chimango who are currently walking up to 20km to the nearest clinic for health services.

Construction of this clinic started during the ZimAsset era and had been stalled owing to financial constraints.

However, the Second Republic came in and introduced devolution funds and after receiving their allocation, the Mudzi RDC used part of the funds to complete the clinic so that villagers could access health services closer to their homes.

Now there is solar energy to power the clinic and a borehole which is supplying clean water to patients and the community at large.

Mudzi RDC chief executive officer Mr Victor Nyamutswa told The Herald that they were currently in the process of registering the institution.

“Chimango rural health centre is located in Shinga ward of Mudzi district. The project was started under ZimAsset as a community project and it was completed using devolution funds. We are currently in the process of registering the clinic so that it starts operating in 2023.”

In an interview with The Herald yesterday, Mudzi’s Shinga Ward 4 Councillor Mr Pedzisai Dandara thanked the Second Republic for coming to the people’s rescue through availing funds which saw their clinic being completed.

“Our clinic is complete, what is left is for it to be opened to the public. People are so happy that Government has done this for them.

“Construction of this clinic began a long time ago and was stalled due to financial reasons. However the coming in of the Second Republic and introduction of devolution funds is a major relief to the people who expected it to be opened last year but due to some administrative processes that could not happen, so we are expecting it to be opened any day from now.”

Chimango resident Mr Chengetai Mapango thanked Mudzi RDC and Government for availing the funds.

“Completion of this clinic took a long time and now we have reached that level where it is ready fir commissioning. We are happy as a community to know that Government has not forgotten us. We are hopeful that soon people will be served at this clinic.”

Baba Siyakurima, another resident said their prayers have been answered as a community.

“We are thankful to Government and our President for this clinic. It is now ready for opening. Everything is there including solar energy. It has always been our wish to access health services nearby.”

Ms Judith Gute thanked Government for availing funds which enabled the clinic to be completed.

“I thank Government and Mudzi Rural District Council for this clinic. As you can see, the clinic structure is complete but its not yet opened. We are appealing to the authorities to now open it for us. As you can see, we do not have any clinic nearby, so most of the people walk for long distances to the next clinic.

“Some end up loosing their lives, while others give birth at home which is not good. So if this one closer to us is opened, surely our problems will be history,” she said.

Amai Kaverenga said what the Government has done for them should be applauded.