Online Reporter
Mathew Masinge
Karanda Hospital has appealed for support to expand its specialised healthcare services and community outreach programmes, which it has provided for decades.
Speaking during a media tour of the hospital, assistant medical director, Dr Takudzwa Sasa, invited well-wishers, donors and corporate partners to support the institution’s development efforts.
“The public and donors can contribute in various ways, including financial support, the provision of medical equipment, or by volunteering their expertise. We also welcome corporate social responsibility initiatives and partnerships that can help us accelerate our development projects,” said Dr Sasa.
The hospital says it is under increasing financial pressure due to the significant resources it allocates towards providing free medical care.
Dr Sasa revealed that the hospital spent approximately US$155,000 on free treatment last year as part of its commitment to ensuring access to healthcare for vulnerable patients.
“Karanda is a small, compact but highly effective hospital with 160 beds, primarily built to serve underprivileged communities in Mt Darwin East, stretching all the way to Dande.
“Over the years, the hospital has gained national recognition, attracting thousands of patients from across the country. Our model is one of the closest examples of charity healthcare in Zimbabwe.
“Because of the growing number of patients, we are facing challenges that require us to expand our male and female wards, but we currently do not have the necessary resources,” said Dr Sasa.
He added that staffing levels are also failing to keep pace with the increasing demand for healthcare services at the hospital.
“We need partnerships and support to provide accommodation for our doctors and nurses, as well as to improve infrastructure while continuing to offer quality healthcare to all patients who seek our services.
“We work very well with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, but our nurse-to-patient ratio is becoming a concern, and we need more staff to effectively carry out our work,” he said.
The hospital is also seeking assistance to secure a dedicated electricity supply line to ensure uninterrupted delivery of critical services.
“We need a dedicated ZESA power line. This would help reduce our dependence on expensive generator power and allow us to channel more resources towards patient care,” said Dr Sasa.
He noted that the hospital consumes approximately 500 litres of diesel to run its generators for just four hours.
The appeal comes as the mission hospital continues to provide heavily subsidised healthcare services despite rising operational costs.
Dr Sasa said consultation fees remain free for patients from the local community.
Patients from other parts of Mt Darwin pay US$5, while those travelling from Bindura and beyond are charged US$10.
The hospital serves thousands of patients annually from Mashonaland Central and other parts of Zimbabwe, making a reliable electricity supply critical for the operation of theatres, wards, laboratories and other essential medical services.
Karanda Hospital is among Zimbabwe’s leading mission health institutions and plays a vital role in providing both specialist and primary healthcare services to communities in the country’s northern regions.
Currently, Karanda Mission Hospital serves close to 140,000 patients annually, conducts more than 51,000 outpatient consultations and performs approximately 4,000 surgeries each year.
With a dedicated workforce of 278 healthcare professionals and support staff, the hospital continues to provide comprehensive healthcare services to patients from across Zimbabwe.
