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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A NEW clinic has been built in the Dumba area of Ward 2 in Beitbridge through devolution funds and additional resources mobilised by Beitbridge Rural District Council (BBRDC) and the locals.
The primary healthcare facility has brought excitement to locals as it is expected to serve more than 6 000 people. The project began in 2003 and has been progressing at a snail’s pace due to resource constraints.
However, civil works peaked in 2020 following intervention by the Government through availing devolution funds. BBRDC provided land and technical expertise while communities provided other materials including bricks.
The local authority’s chief executive officer, Mr Peter Moyo said the clinic was part of the major infrastructure development initiatives they have implemented using devolution funds.
“At Dumba, we are now working on final touches as recommended by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and our target is to have it operating soon,” he said. Mr Moyo said the local authority intends to use more devolution funds to build schools and clinics, among other key infrastructure.
“We have been carrying out a number of infrastructure development projects using devolution funds.
In some cases we are working together with the communities in mobilising material resources and labour,” he said.
Mr Moyo said council has also used part of the devolution funds to spruce up Shashe Clinic, repair roofs at Chabeta Primary School and completed the building of two classroom blocks at Nhovhe Primary School in Beitbridge West.
The school has started enrolling Early Childhood Development (ECD) pupils. The council intends to build at least one more clinic in each ward to reduce the distance people travel to access the nearest health facility.
“This is a relief for us as a community considering that we had to travel for more than 20km to seek medical attention,” said Mr Siphuma Nguluvhe.
Dumba Clinic construction committee chairman, Mr Kossam Mbedzi said they had drilled four boreholes, which are powered by solar and also built three F14 houses for the medical staff.
He said work to provide electricity to the clinic was underway and they were waiting for the delivery of a transformer. Mr Mbedzi said they had also received 100 bags of cement from the local legislator, Mr Albert Nguluvhe to complete the project.
“We had this dream of having a clinic in our backyard since 2003 and things were not moving until we got help from the Government around 2020,” he said.
A senior citizen, Mrs Lidia Mbedzi, said the opening of the new clinic will reduce cases of maternal deaths in the community as some mothers were giving birth at thome.
She said elderly women used to walk long distances to seek health services for their grandchildren.
“This is a huge development for us as women in this area. Walking through the bushes to access health facilities in Dite or Shabwe or Beitbridge was not safe at all,” said Mrs Lydia Sibanda.
-@tupeyo
Online Reporter