Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu
Health and Gender Editor
MASSIVE renovations are underway at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo as the Government moves in to transform health care service delivery in the southern region through modernising key hospital infrastructure.
The major renovations are significant step under the Second Republic as they are the first since the hospital opened its doors in 1958.
True to President Mnangagwa’s philosophy: ‘leaving no one and no place behind’, the development follows a similar programme recently initiated at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, which will be spread across the country to ensure even access to health care services.
Yesterday the news crew witnessed the teams at work on the ground at Mpilo with projections that the first phase of the renovations will be completed in three months.
Prevail International Group has been contracted to undertake the renovations and has stripped the ‘C’ block of all fittings, doors, windows, tiles and other accessories as they prepare to install new fittings.
The same contractor started similar works at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare in July.
Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, explained the scope of renovations that commenced recently at the giant facility.
“This planned development is quite a massive undertaking, it shows how the Second Republic’s strategic planning for the next few years works. Once this work is done, you see they are doing work on all these blocks, removing everything, Mpilo is going to have a new look,” he said.
“Patients are going to see improved service delivery.
“We are really excited about the developments, we are looking forward to this complete development, which will leave an indelible mark on the lives of many people,” said Prof Ngwenya.
Mpilo Central Hospital is the largest hospital in terms of the number of beds in the region and serves a large population from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, the Midlands and Masvingo.
Prof Ngwenya said the hospital had dilapidated in many areas making them unfit for both staff and patients hence the renovations are expected to change the face of the institution.
“Some of the areas of the hospital were not fit for purpose anymore, but the moment we reopen here the patients will really enjoy the new look,” he said.
“This is the first massive renovation to be done since the hospital opened and for it to be done in the Second Republic is quite pleasing and for me personally, this is going to be a monumental experience to see a hospital almost being rebuilt in my presence,” added Prof Ngwenya.
He emphasised the need for a transformation of culture and preservation of infrastructure and new equipment.
“The new vision is that, the staff and everyone who works here to change their culture, the culture is now to be highly disciplined and take control of their resources and utilise them properly.
“They must not vandalise infrastructure and say it is Government property, that infrastructure belongs to the people and must be kept well,” said Prof Ngwenya.
Acting operations director, Mr Phineas Sithole, also weighed in on the renovations and explained how the exercise will make the hospital an institution of choice.
“They are doing renovations, refurbishment and improvements of the existing structure. They started on the 13th of October when we evacuated our wards and moved our patients to other wards and other departments too had to move.
“They started by removing the old equipment inside in preparation of the actual renovations.
“As we agreed with the contractor, they are starting with block C. The hospital is divided into blocks, C block is to the north of the hospital and we have the clinical wards, CI, C3, C5 and C7, which was being used by the accounts, human resources and records department,” said Mr Sithole.
The renovations are targeted at the whole hospital and, according to preliminary plans, the contractor will start on C block, then A block, moving to B block and other departments.
The hospital management said the new fittings and equipment will augment the newly renovated structures.
Recently Mpilo Hospital received a state-of-the-art C-Arm machine, which is an image intensifier used during surgery that provides real time x-ray images helping surgeons in visualising internal structures and guiding interventions with precision.
This is seen as a step forward in providing advanced treatment for patients. As an institution, they said the renovations have come at an opportune time following years of challenges and dilapidation of the 67-year-old hospital.
“It was long overdue, the renovations will solve a lot of problems that we have here like roof leakages, cracked floors, broken windows and just a facelift of the hospital,” said Mr Sithole.
“The southern region that we serve is really looking forward to this development too because most of them come here. They have been asking about the news they heard that there is work being done at Mpilo and hearing the machinery making noise here will actually spread the word that renovations are in place,” he said.
Mr Sithole also spoke on the need to guard jealously the new infrastructure.
“This is everybody’s wish, what we are looking forward to is ownership, let’s own this hospital, let’s see it as serving our own people, our own community,” he said.
“This way people will be deterred from taking things unlawfully from the hospital, that’s the change of culture that we are looking at.
“We are facing a lot of vandalism in this hospital, they are stealing copper wires and many more, all those are characteristics of people who do not have ownership,” he said.
Mr Sithole further said they wanted to see the completion of the project and have a great product to be proud of, thanking the Second Republic for keeping its promises.
“When people spoke about the Second Republic’s infrastructure transformation according to our strategic plan, these are the examples they are talking about.
“We have also seen other developments like the ambulances that we received together with machinery and all these are associated with the Second Republic, which means we are benefiting from that. All we need is an inclusive support to them because people are really benefiting,” he added.
Mpilo Central Hospital has a bed capacity of 1 108 and is currently using 949.
