Govt upgrades Kezi Rural Hospital, police station

GOVERNMENT continues to make significant progress towards completing the upgraded Kezi Rural Hospital as part of measures to improve access to quality health services.

The hospital was established in 1948, before its roof was damaged by termites and posed a danger to both staff and patients. The facility has a catchment area of over 9,000 people, underlining its importance.

What was initially supposed to be a rehabilitation exercise ended up being a new makeover for the hospital, as the walls of the old structure could not support the beams, forcing contractors to demolish it.

The project is part of several legacy projects being implemented in Matobo District ahead of the 46th Independence celebrations to be hosted in Maphisa.

Last week, the Government organised a media tour on the projects being done ahead of the Uhuru celebrations.

Sister in charge of the hospital, Matron Ellen Jiye, hailed the work being done at the hospital.
“We are grateful for the work of the Second Republic for giving us a new structure because the old structure had become a hazard due to termites. We were now transferring people to Maphisa District Hospital as we could not take a risk,” she said.

Matron Jiye said the contractors were forced to pull down the old structure and start all over as the walls could not carry the new beams. She said the hospital has a catchment area of over 9,000 people around Kezi.

“This is a vital health centre because it cares for thousands of people. The setting up of the new structure has increased staff morale because working in a dilapidated structure is not ideal. The workers are working overtime to make sure the hospital is ready for commissioning soon,” she said.

Adjacent to the hospital, Kezi Police Station has also received a facelift with works being done to rehabilitate the station.

Mr Lungisani Ncube, a villager from Kezi, hailed the development.

“I feared that the hospital would be closed because anything could have happened to the roof. We will be able to get medical service here rather than flooding Maphisa District Hospital.

“This is the reason why we want President Mnangagwa to continue to 2030 so that his vision is realised,” he said.

Mrs Nomathamba Mnkandla also hailed the development, saying women were bearing the brunt of walking to Maphisa District Hospital.

She said works around the district have shown that President Mnangagwa is pro-development.

“We have cried about marginalisation for a long time, but now we can see what we have been yearning for. People need to come to our area and see the work being done and they will understand why we want President Mnangagwa to take us to 2030,” she said.–@themkhust