Ganye Clinic benefits over 14 000 villagers

OVER 14 000 villagers from the Gokwe-Sesame under the Chief Nemangwe area in Gokwe North District, have started benefitting from the recently commissioned Ganye Clinic.

The clinic has brought health care services closer to the community. In the past, villagers were forced to travel to Gokwe Centre to access health care from Gokwe District Hospital.

Located some 18km west of Gokwe Centre, Ganye Clinic is already proving to be a game changer in terms of the provision of quality healthcare.

The construction of the clinic started in 2013, but Gokwe South Rural District Council had to suspend work due to funding challenges.

It was only completed after the local authority got devolution funds from the Government.

The clinic has an outpatient department, male and female wards, fully equipped maternity ward, storerooms and a dispensary.

It is one of the key projects in the Midlands Province, implemented under the devolution programme.

Ganye Clinic has helped decongest Gokwe District Hospital and also created employment for the local community.

In interviews, villagers commended the Government for funding the project through devolution funds.

Mr Mike Bangazi (80), who is suffering from a chronic condition, said the clinic is just a stone’s throw away from his homestead.

“Unlike in the past when we used to travel 20km to access health services, we now have a facility at our doorstep. As you can see, my condition no longer allows me to travel long distances,” he said.

Another villager, Mrs Prisca Sibanda (34), commended the Government for availing resources for the completion of the clinic.

“I want to thank the Government for coming up with such a great idea of devolution funds. Right now, we have a clinic at our doorstep and this has eased the burden of travelling long distances to Gokwe Centre,” she said.

Devolution funds have transformed the health sector, with new clinics emerging in several districts across the country as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.

The programme has helped local authorities to boost health service delivery, particularly in rural areas, where a majority of citizens quite often face long journeys when ill to obtain treatment.

Devolution funds are assisting local authorities to fulfil their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as clinics, classroom blocks, roads and bridges among other facilities.

With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), councils have dedicated a larger chunk of devolution funds to healthcare provision through the construction of clinics.

Gokwe-Sesame legislator, Cde Madron Matiza, said the Second Republic is walking the talk in terms of leaving no one and no place behind.

“We are grateful for the devolution funds that are being disbursed to local authorities such as Gokwe RDC, which resulted in the completion of this beautiful clinic.

“Right now, we have a functioning maternity ward and outpatient department and locals are no longer forced to travel to Gokwe Centre to access health services,” he said.