Insiza deploys CDF to healthcare projects

Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter

INSIZA North has channelled its constituency development funds towards the development of the health service sector, a move that has brought relief to some community members who have been walking long distances to access healthcare services.

Previously, villagers had to endure lengthy journeys of over 35 kilometres to access essential healthcare services, often having to walk to Shangani Clinic or Nkankezi Clinic. 

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) co-ordinator, Mr Herbert Mpofu, told Sunday News in an interview that the district had five clinics but with the help of the CDF and National Assembly member for Insiza North Cde Farai Taruvinga they were in the process of constructing six clinics in wards 13, 14, 16, 20 and 21.

“I am the CDF projects co-ordinator for Insiza North. I work with the CDF team chaired by Cde Taruvinga and the Rural District Development Committee (RDDC) as provided for in the Rural and Urban Councils Act. Currently in the district there is Amazon Clinic, Nkankezi Clinic, Montrose Clinic, Shangani Clinic PBS and St Lucy Clinic. CDF is constructing six clinics in wards 13, 14,16, 20 and 21. These are Sweethome Clinic, Msudu Clinic, Fort Rixon Clinic, Bolo Clinic, Palawani Clinic and Lambamai Clinic,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said out of the six clinics under construction, only two are at slab level while the other four are at 85 percent completion. “The other four clinics are almost complete. If the CDF funds are availed quickly the nurses’ cottages and incinerators will be constructed and by then we will be good to go,” he said.

He said it was their mandate to ensure that every ward in the district has a clinic so that people do not walk long distances to access essential healthcare services. Mr Mpofu said as a district they want to make sure that everyone walks less than five kilometres to the nearest clinic.

“We want to ensure that every ward has a clinic unlike in the years gone by where people in ward 13 walked 35km to Shangani Clinic or 95km to Nkankezi Clinic. We intend to build more clinics where people need them but we are guided by Ministry of Health technicians in this endeavour,” he said.

He applauded the Government efforts in ensuring provision of essential services to the communities. Mr Mpofu expressed hope that funding would be made available to expedite the construction work of facilities that meet best practice as provided for by the Health Services Board.

 

“A clinic costs more than a classroom block as it has more structures that should meet health compliance standards. We therefore hope that funding for construction of health facilities be increased, electricity and boreholes should also be made available in each place where a clinic is. If the funding is increased and disbursed on time then it will be all systems go for us in the district,” he said.

Mr Mpofu said they hoped to  complete all the clinics which they started last year before embarking on new projects. “We intend to finish the clinics that we started with CDF for 2023 this year. We want to celebrate together that indeed we have served our constituency in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind.”