Filabusi community gets free treatment

Robin Muchetu Senior Reporter
HUNDREDS of people from Filabusi area yesterday benefited from free medical services from more than 60 doctors and specialists affiliated to the Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) who offered their services as part of the organisation’s social responsibility programme. Zima Matabeleland branch secretary general Dr Henry Kuzanga said there was need for more outreach programmes to cover people staying in areas, far from health institutions.

“We have noted that more work needs to be done deep in the communities because we realised many people need the services but are staying far from the district hospital and cannot afford to come here. So in future we will mobilise a team that will visit the rest of the communities far from here,” he said.
Dr Kuzanga said this particular outreach was targeting surgical cases that need attention.

“We are looking mainly at surgical cases and booking them for another free outreach programme that we will have at Gwanda Provincial Hospital. Many of these surgical cases are referred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals as Gwanda does not have a theatre so we will invite surgeons and anesthetists to Gwanda and they will perform the surgeries for free,” he said.

He said this was being done so that they cut costs for the patients who cannot afford to travel to Bulawayo.
Dr Kuzanga noted that the there was a gap in terms of services for psychiatric cases whom he said could be prevalent but were not being given due attention.
The District Medical Officer (DMO) for Filabusi Dr Mandlenkosi Nkala said it was a rare opportunity that they area have a complement of over 60 medical personnel and specialists to assist the patients. Dr Nkala said economic constraints have forced some people from visiting health centres so such outreach programmes were a blessing to the community.

He noted that HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and assault cases mainly from gold panners where still a major challenge in the district. He said there where HIV awareness programmes done through the District Aids Co-ordinator targeted at small scale miners and testing services that are on offer as this group is highly mobile.
Community leaders, the Islamic Society of Zimbabwe, Dental Association of Zimbabwe, Allied Health Sector, Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Development Association participated in the outreach.