Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
GREAT Zimbabwe University is on the verge of commissioning a new, state-of-the-art specialised hospital at its Mashava Campus, marking a giant step in the institution’s implementation of the national Education 5.0 thrust.
University authorities have confirmed that the physical construction of the facility is now complete.
Furthermore, approximately 60 percent of the necessary advanced medical equipment has already been procured for Mashava Hospital, which forms a core component of the university’s innovation hubs.
The development is in tandem with Government’s Education 5.0 philosophy, which mandates universities to move beyond teaching and research to directly contribute to national development through innovation, industrialisation and value addition.
This healthcare investment specifically targets the science and technology sector, aiming to bridge the gap between academic training and practical, community-oriented service.
Mashava Hospital will add to the country’s list of specialised hospitals, which are usually housed in major referral institutions such as Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
The facility will also be used for training medical students.
GZU Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Research and Innovation, Professor David Chikodzi, said the project was in line with the institution’s mandate to drive relevant innovation.
“Our focus is basically creating human capital development that is relevant for industry and part of that includes innovations that are relevant to the socio-economic development of this country.
“We would like to thank our Government for funding innovation hubs within universities that have led to transformative innovations that have led to basically the transformation of communities and even optimisation of industrial processes,” he said.
Prof Chikodzi said the specialised hospital would provide an alternative for patients who ordinarily seek treatment outside the country.
“Once it gets operational, there will be no need to travel to other countries like India for special treatment.
“Such kind of special treatments will be done here,” he said.
Simon Muzenda Medical School dean of students, Professor Jacob Mafunda, said the specialised hospital was meant to complement services offered at the teaching hospital in Mashava.
“At the moment, people from some parts of Masvingo have to travel to Harare to receive imaging services such as CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging. We would like that service to be readily available through Mashava Specialist Hospital,” he said.
Prof Mafunda said once operational, the hospital would treat conditions affecting the upper abdomen, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, uterus, ovaries and other ailments.
Meanwhile, Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has also ventured into the medical field through its innovation hub after setting up an Optometry Clinic that is now offering services locally and beyond the country’s borders.
The clinic, led by Dr Claudio Mtuwa, manufactures lenses and spectacles and offers eye treatment services.
BUSE Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje said the clinic was operating efficiently, with plans to export products to the region.
Prof Mwenje said the clinic also enrols and trains medical students.
He said the university had discovered that a chemical used for water purification could also be used in the manufacture of glasses.
