Vusumuzi Dube
Robin Muchetu and Raymond Jaravaza, Chronicle Writers
THE Second Republic continues to implement life-changing projects across the country with notable health projects recently completed in Bulawayo.
The projects being implemented are a confirmation of Government’s commitment to its philosophy of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
A tour by the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere and his team on Friday revealed that Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), have benefitted from Government projects that are both transformative and vital to the institutions as well as the communities they serve.
In 2021, a fire gutted the doctors’ quarters at Mpilo Central Hospital, causing extensive damage to the building housing medical professionals and their families. In response, the Government facilitated the construction of new doctors’ quarters, while the damaged building was renovated to accommodate those displaced.
Doctors who have since moved into the new complex say they are very happy with the standard of accommodation which meets their needs.
“I have been staying here at the doctors’ flats since March 2024 when I joined Mpilo. I must say I am impressed by the state of the accommodation. We have necessary amenities here — bathrooms with hot showers, tubs, continuous water and electricity supply,” said Dr Lee Nhetekwa.
He emphasised the importance of housing doctors within the hospital premises.
“As interns doing their horsemanship, it is crucial for us to be housed within the institution. We often receive calls at night and need to respond promptly. Being close means we can quickly attend to emergencies. Additionally, the security of our vehicles here is guaranteed,” said Dr Nhetekwa.
Another beneficiary, Dr Jeffrey Thandazani Ndlela, who recently moved into the apartments, shared similar sentiments.
“Being housed at the hospital is very convenient for us. We are always available because we reside at the hospital,” said Dr Ndlela.
He however, said there is need to expand the accommodation facilities to accommodate more doctors.
“We have 35 doctors here and 18 others are accommodated in the other complex. We understand more doctors are coming so there is need to build more flats. In January, 12 doctors were deployed here and another 30 joined us in March. We are told that next week about 30 more are coming and as such the existing accommodation cannot accommodate all of them hence the urgent need to build more flats,” said Dr Ndlela.
Nurses’ accommodation at Mpilo Hospital has also been upgraded, providing a comfortable environment that facilitates living and studying under one roof — an unmatched convenience for trainee nurses.
Additionally, the hospital now features a state-of-the-art automated incinerator for medical waste disposal, a development hailed as a game-changer. This facility will serve not only Mpilo but other health institutions within Bulawayo and the Matabeleland region.
United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) is also set to benefit from a cutting-edge Government initiative — a new Reference Laboratory which is now in the installation phase. This facility, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, will encompass nine departments, including Haematology, Biochemistry, Histopathology, Immunology/Serology, Blood Bank, Microbiology and Viral Load/Tuberculosis testing.
Mrs Loreen Ngwenya, Chief Medical Laboratory Scientist at UBH, demonstrated the Abbot Alinity machine used for viral load testing to the visiting delegation. The laboratory will also offer liver, kidney and cardiac function assessments as well as immunochemistry, aiding in the diagnosis of various diseases.
A key service will be haematology, focusing on blood and blood-related disorders.
The new laboratory aims to attract clients from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, with trained specialists already recruited.
Both Mpilo and UBH benefitted from solar farms installed by the Government and development partners, ensuring reliable power supply to their operations.
In Cowdray Park, the city’s most populous suburb, a large Government-funded health centre was officially opened by President Mnangagwa on August 2, 2023. This facility has significantly impacted the community by bringing healthcare services closer to residents.
Dr Brian Matoro, the facility’s head, noted that since it started operating, the health centre has brought healthcare closer to the people of Cowdray Park, thereby decongesting referral hospitals in Bulawayo.
“X-ray services are free for children under six and senior citizens over 65. The health centre serves patients from Cowdray Park, Nkulumane, Emakhandeni and Entumbane. It is the largest Government-owned health institution in Cowdray Park, offering X-Rays and ultrasound scans for pregnant women,” he said.
The health projects implemented in Bulawayo confirm the Second Republic’s commitment to improving healthcare services for its citizens.
Online Reporter