Mhalipe community brings health services closer to home

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

THE community of Mhalipe area in Gwanda District has started mobilising resources to build a clinic as part of efforts to bring healthcare services to their doorstep.

Upon completion, Mhalipe Clinic is set to benefit five villages in Ward 20. Local community members are forced to walk long distances to the nearest clinic. In case of emergencies, some of them hire private vehicles which charge between R100 and R150 per single trip.

A local villager, Mr Benjamin Dube said a health facility will bring health care services closer to the community.

“There is a compelling need for a clinic in our area. As a community, we decided to come up with an initiative to mobilise funds and approached the council,” he said.

“We have contributed R150 per household and we have even engaged locals based in the diaspora to chip in. It has been a great challenge for us to live without a clinic.”

Mr Dube said they rely on Nhwali Clinic, which is 15km away.

“Mothers with children that need to be vaccinated end up missing the dates because of the long distance. In case of emergencies we hire vehicles and some people take advantage of people’s desperation to charge exorbitant fares,” he said.

Mrs Zodwa Mthethwa said they are now waiting for the council to start the project.

Ward 20 Councillor, Joram Ndlovu commended the local community for taking a leading role in developing their community.

“The community needs this clinic and I’m glad that they have shown a lot of support for this project. Even the diaspora community and business community is daring to go,” he said.

Gwanda Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr Ranganai Sibanda said the development will help augment efforts being done by the council through devolution funds and developmental partners to improve health care services.

“As a district, our target is to ensure that villagers don’t walk more than the recommended five kilometres to reach the nearest clinic. Health care is a basic right and we endeavour to ensure that communities have access to it,” he said.

“The Mhalipe project which is a community initiative is at initial stages. The community has started mobilising resources and we have come in with technical expertise.”

Mr Sibanda said the local authority has done the pegging and they are now developing a plan for the project.

“This project will go a long way as it will benefit many villages. We urge other communities to come up with similar developmental initiatives and not wait for the Government and donors,” he said —@DubeMatutu