Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A WAITING mothers’ shelter and outpatient department have been constructed at Esibomvu Clinic in Umzingwane District, bringing relief to the community and expecting mothers who used to travel long distances to deliver.
The facility is expected to reduce maternal and neonatal complications, highlighting Government’s commitment to improving healthcare services for communities.
The clinic is servicing more than 5 000 villagers, who used to travel about 20km to Esigodini District Hospital to seek services.
The waiting mother’s shelter and outpatient departments were constructed with assistance from World Vision at a cost of about US$115 000.
Following the upgrading, the clinic now has piped water, thereby guaranteeing patients and surrounding communities safe drinking water.
Esibomvu Clinic has for decades faced challenges in providing quality healthcare services due to limited facilities and water shortages.
Pregnant women living in remote areas had been struggling to access maternal services.
“The completion of the waiting mother’s shelter will help reduce the strain for expecting mothers who had to travel more than five kilometres to reach the health facility.
“We have had situations where some mothers delivered while on their way to the clinic,” said a health care committee member, Ms Nomagugu Sibanda.
Ms Millicent Moyo said travelling to Esigodini District Hospital to access maternal services was a burden.
She said when her daughter was due, they had to travel several times to the hospital, which was costly. Ms Moyo said having a waiting mother’s shelter in their area is a huge relief for mothers.
Umzingwane Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mrs Sithembiso Sibanda, said the upgrading of the clinic will greatly improve service delivery.
“Before this upgrading, we were using a staff house as a makeshift Waiting Mothers’ Shelter,” she said.
World Vision regional manager, Mr Shepherd Dlamini, said following the upgrading of the clinic, patients and nearby communities now have access to safe drinking water.
Speaking at the commissioning of the outpatient department and Waiting Mothers’ Shelter recently, Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Albert Nguluvhe described the two facilities as a monumental achievement in healthcare delivery.
He also commended the local authority for upgrading the facility, which is one of the oldest in the district.
The Second Republic working with development partners is on a drive to transform the health sector, with various clinics being constructed around the country.
“This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration between Umzingwane Rural District Council, World Vision Zimbabwe as the complementing partner and the Esibomvu Community at large,” said Minister Nguluvhe.
He said the upgraded clinic can now provide quality health care services to surrounding communities.
Cde Nguluvhe applauded Government for creating an enabling environment for development through partnership.
“We expect reduced maternal and neonatal complication as a result of this upgraded clinic. The completion of this facility is not an isolated success but part of a larger national vision. It reflects our determination to realise Vision 2030, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an Upper Middle-Income Economy,” he said. —@DubeMatutu
