admin
with a combined cost of $800 000 at Mpilo Central Hospital.
The refurbishments were made possible through a $3,1 million grant by the United Kingdom government’s Department for International Development (DFID).
DPM Khupe worked with Crown Agents, an NGO, to source the donation.
Five other hospitals in the country — Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, United Bulawayo Hospitals, Mutare Provincial Hospital, Masvingo Provincial Hospital and Rusape District Hospital — also benefited from the grant.
The scope of works at Mpilo included installation of a new incinerator, installation of two laundry machines, repair of the big washing machine, and installation of new steam reticulation pipes and repair of boilers.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, DPM Khupe said she had visited all hospitals and clinics in the country to assess their needs and come up with solutions to their problems.
“I was shocked at the shortages in the institutions. We are therefore grateful to DFID for being sensitive to our plight. There will be warm water in the wards because of the refurbishments. The improvements will make it easier to train and retain staff,” said DPM Khupe.
She said there was a need to maintain the new machinery, as it would help to combat the spread of infectious diseases among patients.
DPM Khupe said she was happy the Government had finally allocated funds to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to enable it to scrap hospital user fees for pregnant women and children under five.
“Recently the Ministry of Finance announced an increased budget for the Ministry of Health with the particular aim of removing user fees for pregnant women.
“I was very pleased with this move, since I have been at the forefront of advocating for the scrapping of consultation and user fees for pregnant women. I still stand by my view that giving birth is performing a national duty and no woman should die while giving life,” she said.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera, said the refurbishments were part of a bigger programme to improve health care in the country.
“I want to thank DPM Khupe for interfacing with DFID to get funds to refurbish the hospitals,” said Dr Madzorera.
He said Bulawayo’s Mayor, Councillor Thaba Moyo, should keep a pledge that he made earlier in the proceedings, to create an enabling environment for the rehabilitation of Mpilo Central Hospital.
“The city should provide housing stands for health personnel, especially consultants, to ensure that they do not leave the city,” said Dr Madzorera.
The head of DFID, Mr Dave Fish, said the UK was channelling $130 million to Zimbabwe this year towards helping to restore essential services, particularly in the education and health sectors.
“We can see some of the positive impacts of UK funding today in Mpilo Hospital and the five other hospitals, which have benefited from this programme. Other impacts from our support to the health sector
include providing drugs to 1 300 primary care clinics and rural hospitals, and making anti-retroviral treatments available to over 40 000 people,” he said.
Dignitaries who included the clinical director at Mpilo Central Hospital, Dr Wedu Ndebele, Bulawayo councillors, high-ranking officials from other ministries toured the refurbished works.
Online Reporter