Council to build clinics in resettlement areas

Beitbridge Bureau

BEITBRIDGE Rural District Council (BBRDC) is set to build more clinics in resettlements areas, where access to primary health care facilities is relatively limited, an official has said.

The local authority’s chief executive, Mr Peter Moyo said they were planning to build clinics in Wards 13 (Lesanth and Kayansee) and 14 (Mazunga).

He said the council would fund the projects with resources from the devolution initiative.

Mr Moyo said with the current allocation of $3.6 million the council had managed to complete Chabili clinic, which is set to open soon in Ward 2.

He said another clinic was almost complete at Dumba (Ward 15) and was expected to open its doors before the end of the year.

Currently, the district has 16 rural health care centres and needs double the number to have a total coverage of at least two clinics per ward.

The population is very sparse and people walk for more than 20 km to access health facilities.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standards stipulate that people must not travel for more than 8km to reach a clinic.

“We want to increase the number of clinics in our area and we intend to use the devolution funds for such projects,” said Mr Moyo.

“So far, we have committed an allocation of $3, 6million on the construction of two clinics and one school which are all nearing completion.

“Our next target is the resettlement areas, where there are notable health service deliveries challenges”.

He said Chabili project will help relieve pressure on the communities in that area who had to travel for 30km to Dite or 22 km to Chaswingo, which are the nearest points.

He said they had completed the main structure and two F14 houses for health workers and expect the clinic to open its doors when the Ministry of Health and Child Care is done with its inspections.

Mr Moyo said the Dumba community were travelling for between 21km and 30km to the nearest clinics.

He said they had also received $280 000 from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) to upgrade most of their roads that are now in a bad state.