Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
GWERU Provincial Hospital has received medical equipment from the Japanese government which includes digital mobile X-ray machines as part of the 5S-Kaizen-Total Quality Management (TQM) philosophy aimed at improving quality management and healthcare services at the institution.
Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Shinichi Yamanaka, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini and officials from the ministry toured the hospital on Wednesday to have an appreciation of some of the equipment that has already been installed.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said Gweru Provincial Hospital is a shining example of the excellent collaboration between Zimbabwe and Japan.
“I note and appreciate the support you gave to our central and provincial hospitals of medical equipment to the tune of US$6,5 million. Zimbabwe has a vision to achieve upper middle-income status by 2030,” he said.
“This is a huge task and quality health care is mandatory if we are to reach our goals. National Development Strategy 1 as well as the National Health Strategy 2021-2025 have clearly outlined the milestones as part of the road map.”
Deputy Minister Kwidini said the healthcare delivery system is currently faced with a myriad of challenges such as limited fiscal space and a dwindling health workers among others.
“Clients’ feedback both done at the hospital, through the community-based organisations and third-party validation from the citizens across the country has indicated that Gweru Provincial Hospital is the preferred tertiary health care service provider,” he said.
“Other indicators like patient waiting and serving time, availability of medicines, laboratory and radiological tests, and general service availability have been steadily increasing.”
Deputy Minister Kwidini said the surveys done across the ministry show that Gweru Provincial Hospital has respectful staff.
“Progress made across the institutions and facilities that are implementing the 5S-Kaizen-TQM philosophy has been eye-catching and this should encourage other institutions to follow suit,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said according to the World Health Organisation, quality is the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes.
Mr Yamanaka said the 5S Kaizen TQM initiative improves the hospital environment while motivating staff.
“Japan International Cooperation Agency is implementing the Quality Improvement of Health Services through the 5S- Kaizen-TQM Approach at 13 central and provincial hospitals. This approach only requires very limited resources, but it can have a huge impact on improving the hospital environment,” he said.
“It allows the staff to take pride in their work, and increases the quality of healthcare provided to patients.”
Mr Yamanaka said Japan has also provided state-of-the-art medical and hospital equipment through its Grant Aid signed in 2020.
“I hear that the equipment has recently been installed. It will allow people suffering from various conditions, many of whom have been on waiting lists for a long time, to finally get the treatment they need,” he said.
“I’m glad to hear that, through the great collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the 5S-Kaizen-TQM project as well as the new medical and hospital equipment, are having a huge impact at their respective hospitals”.
Mr Yamanaka said through the project, more patients can be treated for their conditions.
“They don’t have to wait for too long to be treated and the staff is happier too with the improved working environments. I hear that Gweru Provincial Hospital has shown the lead in improving the hospital environment through 5S-kaizen-TQM,” he said.
Gweru Provincial Hospital superintendent Dr Fabian Mashingaidze said under the 5S-Kaizen-TQM project they have received support through training and performance monitoring.
“They also assisted us in acquiring equipment such as digital X-ray machines, and patient monitors. In the accident and emergency room, we have the floor-mounted and mobile X-ray machines installed,” he said.
“This helps us attend patients with little movement of patients. We also reduce the turnaround time to do the diagnoses. The mobile X-ray machine can be taken to a patient rather than taking the patient to the X-ray machine.”
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