Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
DR Sandra Kudzai Wayerera who runs Potentia Medical Centre in Beitbridge was recently honoured for providing the best health care services during the Matabeleland South provincial business summit and awards for her commendable work in bringing health care services closer to communities.
Dr Wayerera who has been in practice for six years has established two health centres in Beitbridge -one in the New Stands area and the other in Mashakada Village. Her target is to have established six health centres in Matabeleland South by the end of next year. She is constructing a health centre in the Lutumba area.
Dr Wayerera who was also recognised for being one of the top 10 female entrepreneurs of the year studied medicine at the University of Zimbabwe. After completing her studies she moved to the border town where she worked at the Beitbridge District Hospital. Dr Wayerera said as she continued her work she developed a desire to do more to develop the country’s health sector.
“I noticed that there was a gap in terms of the spread of health facilities not only in Beitbridge but the entire province. We have people in rural communities who have to travel to towns to access decent health services. The population in our towns is also growing as more residential areas are being developed but services are not matching this growth.
“I then saw it fit to establish medical centres in remote parts of the community. We don’t only need clinics in rural areas but also hospitals where patients can access the services of doctors. I opened my second health centre in Mashakada Village in October,” she said.
Dr Wayerera said she ensures that her medical services are affordable to clients. She said she has doctors who operate on a locum basis to assist her in attending to patients. Dr Wayerera said she also conducts awareness campaigns on various health issues to keep the public informed. She said another key duty of a health practitioner is to reduce morbidity and mortality through preventing diseases by way of educating people.
Dr Wayerera said her passion for health developed at a young age while she was staying with her grandmother who is a nurse.
“I developed a love for medicine at a tender age. I grew up with my grandmother who was a nurse. I used to see her serving the community and rendering health services to many, which inspired me a lot. I decided that I would go a step beyond and not only become a nurse but a doctor. As a doctor I have more influence in treating the patients,” she said.
Dr Wayerera said her vision is for her clients to access the best healthcare services from her facilities. She said she ensures that she closely supervises her workers to deliver to the fullest even when she is not around.
Dr Wayerera said the development of the health sector requires input from various stakeholders.
“I’m a medical practitioner in the country and I have a role to play in developing the country’s health sector. I first did this through service in the Government’s health institutions and now I have established my health facilities. If we realise a gap in the health sector then as professionals we have to come up with ways to address these gaps. We all have to build our nation in any way which is possible,” she said. — @DubeMatutu.
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