adminPost Correspondent
CHIMANIMANI East Member of National Assembly Dr Samuel Undenge has engaged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to improve the appalling health delivery system in the mountainous district.
The area has one functional mortuary at Rusitu that has a carrying capacity of two bodies and it frequently breaks down, a situation that the Deputy Minister of Finance described as unfortunate and needed urgent attention.
In an interview on the sidelines of the National Sanitation Week, Global Hand Washing and World Toilet Day joint commemorations held at Kwirire Primary School recently, Dr Undenge said plans were afoot to build a larger hospital than the dilapidated Chimanimani Rural Hospital as well as several other clinics to cater for all.
The event was held under the theme: “Community driven sanitation and hygiene + hand washing with soap = a healthy Zimbabwe.”
The district has over the years perpetually experienced cycles of diarrhoea infections.
“We have engaged the Ministry of Health and Child Care to address several issues bedevilling our area. Obviously it is a matter of budget and once funds are available, we will take action,” he said.
He, however, expressed pleasure at some critical development that has taken place around the area.
He singled out the Nyahode Bridge in Rusitu Valley which is nearing completion and already helping hundreds of villagers in Wards 16, 22, 23 and 21.
The bridge, which was swept away by cyclone Eline in 2000, was a gateway to commerce and horticulture in the valley.
“Completion of the bridge is good news to everyone. It is 90 percent complete. We also proposed the construction of new clinics and we are happy that Gwindingwi Clinic is almost complete as well. Our roads are poor and also need to be rehabilitated because they are inaccessible when it rains,” he said.
Several villagers interviewed by this paper called on Government to address the shortcomings affecting the health sector in the district.
“We travel long distances to acquire health facilities. Medication is in short supply. If you don’t have money you are helpless. We need these services, they are very important. We hope Government will act fast,” said Mrs Mutogo from Machongwe Business Centre.
Another villager, Mr Sithole, said: “Although we are grateful that Nyahode Bridge is almost complete, we call upon Government to consider building more clinics.
“We are currently utilising a satellite clinic called Hlabiso which is temporary and sometimes struggles to provide medication,” he said.
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