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THE rehabilitation of Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo is set for completion this month before contractors hand over the project paving way for the re-opening of the 200-bed hospital by the end of the year.
The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) is financing the renovation programme that began mid-year while efforts to procure equipment and requisite drugs are underway.
NSSA general manager James Matiza told business executives at a breakfast meeting in Bulawayo yesterday organised by the Matabeleland Chamber of Industries that the hospital, a brainchild of the late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, was geared for re-opening 14 years after it shut its doors.
“Ekusileni was 100 percent built by us. Nobody put a cent there. It closed 14 years ago and NSSA is rehabilitating the building before its re-opening so that the Bulawayo community can benefit,” said Matiza.
“Unfortunately it now needs new equipment and chemicals and that is why it is not working at all. The Zimbabwe Health Care Trust (ZHCT) is preparing equipment to start work there and we’re working with Chemplex Chemicals to provide some of the chemicals for them.”
Years of neglect had resulted in the dilapidation of the $4 million structure with paint peeling off, falling ceilings and roof.
Yesterday afternoon construction workers were still busy working on the structure, which has been repainted, installed with new signage, rehabilitated roof and ceiling.
An official from the centre who requested anonymity said the renovation exercise would be concluded within a week before inspection by medical engineers and then handover.
Recent reports indicate an investor poured in $36 million into the Dr Daud Dube led ZHCT to facilitate the re-opening of the hospital.
The hospital operated for just seven months before it was shut down in 2004 after it was discovered that the equipment bought for it was obsolete.
Ekusileni was built in 2000 and will have 13 departments when fully operational with the potential to increase its capacity to 265 beds.
Matiza also said the Beitbridge Hotel, which courted controversy early this year with concerns it had become a white elephant, was now operating efficiently.
“The hotel has been leased to Rainbow Tourism Group and opened its doors to business in January this year.
“I’m told the building has been fully booked until March next year. There is business there and that project is the fulfilment of the promise we made to the community there,” he said.
Matiza said the development projects were part of the parastatal’s public private partnership (PPPs) initiatives in developing the country’s economy.
NSSA is also financing the Biri Dam project in Chinhoyi as well as operations at Chitungwiza South Medical Hospital.
Online Reporter