Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
A total of 1 254 villagers in Sanyati benefited from a free medical outreach program organised by local legislator, Dr Polite Kambamura, over the weekend.
Dr Kambamura, who is also the deputy minister of Mines and Mining Development, partnered with Discovery Medical Services to implement the programme as part of the Presidential Emergency Medical Scheme.
The two-day outreach, which took place last Friday and Saturday, provided free consultations, exercise sessions, and free medication to villagers from Wards 11 and 16.
Additionally, over 150 villagers received training in basic first aid and walked away with certificates of completion. For Sekuru Augustine Hozheli, who lives with disability, the outreach was timely.
“I am grateful for the programme, as it has given me access to a medical doctor. As someone who uses a wheelchair, travelling to Sanyati Hospital for an examination is difficult and requires money that I do not have,” he shared.
Mr Richard Mukali echoed similar sentiments, noting how his wife benefited from the mobile medical team during the outreach.
“My wife, who has been ill for a week, received treatment. She was even put on a drip due to dehydration. Travelling to the nearest medical facility was a nightmare and I am thankful to Dr Kambamura for organising this outreach.”
Gogo Emilda Sibanda, a hypertensive patient, expressed her gratitude after being diagnosed with high blood pressure during the event.
With a reading of 179/112, she was unaware of the potential consequences.
The medical team took the time to counsel her and provided her with a three-month supply of medication. Her condition was common among many attendees.
The outreach also alleviated the burden on village health workers, who often struggle to assist the community due to a lack of necessary tools for testing high blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
“Sometimes we visit villagers, but find it difficult to help because we lack the required machines. The arrival of this medical team has helped fill the gaps we could not,” a village health worker stated.
Dr Pardon Kambamura, an official from DMS, noted that chronic ailments were among the conditions documented by the team.
In light of this growing concern, Dr Kambamura pledged to provide blood pressure machines to every village health worker in his constituency, alongside re-equipping healthcare facilities with essential equipment.
“The two-day programme has revealed that many villagers are suffering from chronic diseases, often without their knowledge.
“As a stopgap measure to prevent any loss of life, I will provide portable blood pressure machines to every village health worker,” he said.
He added that delivering healthcare services closer to the people aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision.
“We are working on constructing more clinics in the area using my funds and those from the Constituency Development Fund, in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030,” he said.
In addition to the Devolution Funds our council receives annually, while we wait for more clinics to reduce the distance our people must travel, we will continue mobile medical outreach so that those in hard-to-reach areas can benefit.”
Earlier this year, in February, over 700 villagers received free medical assistance at Nyimo Business Centre in the same constituency, a programme also organised by Dr Kambamura and DMS.
