Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
VILLAGERS from Ward four in Matobo District, Matabeleland South, have mobilised resources to construct Ratanyana Clinic in their area as part of efforts to ensure improved access to health care services.
To ensure the project succeeds, the local community is working closely with those in the Diaspora under the Marko Ward Development Initiative, where about 450 households from the area have each contributed R500 towards the project.
So far, two clinic blocks have been constructed with one awaiting plastering. The community is set to construct a waiting mother’s shelter, staff cottages and flushable toilets.
The clinic is set to be completed by the end of the year and would benefit five villages namely Simpane, Ntantini, Ratanyana, Mashumba and Mahlabathini. Before the project, villagers were forced to walk nearly 15km to the nearest clinic.
In an interview, Ward Four Councillor, Clr Mxolisi Ncube said the community decided to construct the clinic during the Covid-19 peak period as they felt the severe effects of not having a health facility nearby.
“This clinic was pegged around 2010 and community members dug up the foundation but the project never kick-started. During the Covid-19 period, there was a serious need for health care services but the clinic is far away, which motivated the community to take up the initiative,” he said.
“Works started in 2020 and community members have been working at the site every Wednesday from 9am to 4pm. The community has shown great unity in making this project a success.
“We have been working closely with the Matobo Rural District Council engineers, who have been providing technical advice.”
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Clr Ncube, said they have formed different committees both locally and internationally with sub-committees in South Africa, Bulawayo, USA and the UK, which also caters for those in Ireland.
Clr Ncube, said project members in the Diaspora have been contributing US$3 per month.
“People have shown great support for the project. I would like to say thank you to the Diaspora community for remembering to invest back home. Our target is to ensure that we complete this project by year-end then we hand over the project to council and the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.
“We want to build a facility that meets modern standards and that’s why were want to construct flushable toilets.”
Clr Ncube said the community still needs financial support to buy cement to complete the plastering process, saying a total of US$35 000 is required to complete the project. He appealed for support from development partners to ensure that the project was completed on time.
Ratanyana village head, Mr Samson Ncube, said the community has for long struggled to access health care services and villagers had to walk, use scotch carts or bicycles in order to get to the clinic. He said the community attaches a lot of value to the project and wishes to complete it soon.
“Ratanyana Clinic had remained a pipe dream for the community and we are pleased by the progress that we have made. The clinic was pegged around the year 2010 but it never kicked off. The community through their sweat and resources has managed to bring this project to life. Soon the problem of walking long distances to reach the clinic will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Matobo Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Elvis Sibanda, said the initiative by the Ward four community was commendable and needs to be replicated in other areas. He said community members where possible, should start their own development projects and not depend solely on Government or donors.
Mr Sibanda said improved healthcare services remain critical in attaining Vision 2030.
“We thank the community of Ward four for being pro-active and taking a lead in developing their community. The work of developing our communities requires corroborated effort,” he said.
“Government and council are doing their part and we also need the input of other stakeholders. This clinic will go a long way in ensuring improved healthcare services in the district. We urge other communities that want to initiate such development projects to approach the council.”-@DubeMatutu
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