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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke recently in Chimanimani
A new 22-bed health centre is being built in Chimanimani to service the families who were displaced by Cyclone Idai in 2019 and are relocated to West End Farm, where they are safe should extreme rainfall cause rivers to break their banks.
At least 260 families are expected to be moved to new homes in Chayamiti village, under chief Mutambara, from Ngangu and Rusitu after the Government delivered on its promise to help restore their livelihoods with the construction of houses, schools, clinics and irrigation facilities.
As such, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development funded the construction of the new Runyararo health centre.
This is part of the initiative to bring healthcare services closer to the people, particularly those in rural areas, through a US$210 million facility that will see NMS Infrastructure Ltd constructing thirty 22-bed health centres and five 60-bed district hospitals across Zimbabwe.
Speaking to The Herald after a tour of the facility, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga said not only would the facility offer healthcare services to relocated families but also the surrounding communities.
“We have over 260 families who are going to be moved, some of them have already moved from areas that were affected by Cyclone Idai. The bigger vision is to have that area developed into a bigger settlement with irrigation and other services so definitely there is need to provide health services for that big population,” he said.
Runyararo health centre is situated close to Chayamiti and Bumba clinics, which would have been overwhelmed had the new facility not been constructed.
Dr Mukuzunga said the fact that Runyararo health centre was a hybrid clinic cum hospital that could offer a wider range of services meant more patients would need to use the facility.
“In an ordinary clinic we do not have theatre facilities and admission which will be offered by this clinic. Runyararo will therefore offer more services to people in the process of moving and those in surrounding communities of Bumba and Chayamiti thus increasing the population that will be served by the facility. We will also have a resident doctor and offer caesarean sections so the expectation is that even other feeder clinics will also be able to refer to that facility,” he said.
Families that have already moved to the new location expressed their gratitude to the Government for honouring its pledge to restore their lives.
Mrs Annette Muresherwa said although they had lost a lot in the cyclone disaster, they were slowly rebuilding their lives.
“We were in Chimanimani where we were affected by Cyclone Idai and we relocated to this area. We are looking forward to settling in this area and we are thankful for what the Government has done for us. We are particularly grateful for the clinic that is being built for us as it will bring health services closer to us,” she said. Another resident Ms Rumbidzai Dube, who has been employed at the construction site said she was grateful for the opportunity to be part of the process of bringing development to the community.
“We were affected by Cyclone Idai and we stayed in tents for a long time. The Government built these houses for us and we moved. When construction of the clinic started, I was employed here so I am earning a living while being part of this good development. We are grateful for what the Government has done for us,” she said.
Construction of the Runyararo health centre started in December last year and building works are now 70 percent complete.
NMS Infrastructure installation, commissioning, maintenance and training manager Mr Tendayi Gatsi said work on the superstructure was expected to be completed by end of August.
“The construction of Runyararo health centre started in December last year with the steel works then they proceeded with the light weight steel frameworks. The plastering of the main facility and accommodation started in May. Now they are proceeding with the finishings that include the packing of the walls, flooring and painting,” he said.
He said installation of medical equipment will start after all construction works are finished.
To date, the Government has completed Stoneridge health centre in Harare, which is now operational. Cowdray Park health centre in Bulawayo is now 100 percent complete with all equipment in place and now awaits commissioning. At Mataga health centre in Mberengwa, construction work is now at 97 percent and is expected to be completed and furnished by June.
Runyararo is the fourth facility and its completion along with all the other facilities will be a game changer in the delivery of healthcare services for all as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1.
Online Reporter