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Limpret Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
GWANDA Provincial Hospital is in the process of setting up a dialysis unit, a project that will see kidney patients being dialysed in Gwanda while easing pressure on Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Pugy Chimberengwa, said equipment was sourced through a Chinese loan package and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
He said the setting up of the unit was going to ease congestion on Mpilo Central Hospital, which was the only public health institution with such a facility in the southern region of the country.
“Having a renal unit at Gwanda Hospital, which is a tertiary referral institution for Matabeleland South Province will decongest Mpilo Central Hospital. Mpilo was the only public health institution with such a facility in this part of the country,” said Dr Chimberengwa.
He said the unit would accommodate all people that needed dialysis from within and outside the province. He also said they have not yet fixed costs of a dialysis session, but said it would be affordable to cater for the less privileged in pursuance of access to health for all thrust.
“All patients that have been diagnosed with renal/kidney failure will get regular dialysis cycles and will benefit at a much lower cost compared to most private health institutions where patients pay with an arm and a leg,” Dr Chimberengwa said.
He said the hospital did not build a new structure, but only renovated an existing structure using hospital funds for the housing of the equipment at an estimated cost of $5 000.
He added that they also invested in training of staff to man the dialysis unit.
Dr Chimberengwa said the unit which was now 95 percent complete started mid-June last year and was likely to start operating next month.
“The machines and the plant have been connected, such that in case of emergency, a patient will be taken for dialysis.
“We anticipate completion by end of this month and hopefully open doors to the public next month,” Dr Chimberengwa said.
Gwanda mayor, Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu expressed gratitude over the project and said they were eagerly anticipating its expected completion and opening to the public.
derick.khumalo