Chronicle EditorWalter Mswazie Herald Correspondent
HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has hailed the People’s Own Savings Bank (POSB) for addressing water challenges being faced by rural health centres through drilling of boreholes. In a speech read on his behalf by Masvingo provincial Epidemiology and Diseases Control officer Dr Tapera Saravoye during the commissioning of a 74 metre-deep borehole drilled by the bank at Neshuro District Hospital in Mwenezi last week, Dr Parirenyatwa said the health centre was facing acute water shortages that called for intervention.
The hospital services a population of 209 000 rural people and has bed capacity of 104.
“This hospital was facing critical water shortages since the Zimbabwe National Water Authority is facing challenges in supplying adequate water. There were always erratic supplies of the precious liquid,” Dr Parirenyatwa said.
“In February some of the wards at the hospital were closed due to water shortages as ZINWA was overwhelmed by the demand. The borehole drilled by POSB has come in handy to the staff and patients.”
He said due to water shortage at the institution, the infection control and hygiene measures had been compromised.
POSB public relations manager Mr Simukayi Mutamangira said the bank has embarked on project to assist Government in health service delivery through the provision of water at health centres in arid areas of Zimbabwe.
“We are cognisance of the fact that in many hospitals you will find paediatric unit, maternity wards and other units not functioning because of water shortage. We therefore realised the need for us to come on board and drilled a 74 metres-deep borehole here at Neshuro District Hospital,” said Mr Mutamangira.
He said the bank was targeting the most hard hit health centres across the country and they are doing this under a three-year project.
Online Reporter