Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
ZANU PF national chairman and Defence Minister, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has commended NetOne for complementing Government’s efforts to improve access to healthcare in rural communities through its 30th anniversary medical outreach programme.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said initiatives that brought essential services closer to communities were critical to the attainment of the country’s development aspirations under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
She was speaking in Mutasa District, Manicaland, where NetOne, in partnership with ZimSmart Villages, conducted a medical outreach programme as part of its NetOne @30 Health and Care pillar.
The initiative is part of a nationwide programme targeting 30 districts and about 90 000 households, with approximately 3 000 households expected to benefit in each district.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri, who was accompanied by Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Advocate Misheck Mugadza, commended NetOne for placing communities at the centre of its 30th anniversary celebrations.
“As we pursue the aspirations of Vision 2030 and implement the National Development Strategy 2, we must continue to harness innovation, technology and partnerships to improve the quality of life of our people,” she said.
“Healthcare is fundamental to development because healthy communities are better positioned to participate meaningfully in the social and economic development of our country.”
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said partnerships between Government, the private sector and development partners were important in complementing public efforts to improve access to essential services.
The outreach comes as NetOne continues to expand its corporate social responsibility programmes beyond telecommunications.
The company identifies healthcare, empowerment, connecting communities and education among its CSR pillars.
NetOne public relations manager, Mr Ernest Magadzire, said the telecommunications company wanted its 30th anniversary celebrations to demonstrate how connectivity could contribute to improving people’s lives.
“For 30 years, NetOne has connected Zimbabweans. As we celebrate this milestone, we want connectivity to mean more than communication.
“We want it to connect people to healthcare, information, opportunity and essential services, especially in communities that need them most,” he said.
Mr Magadzire said the Mutasa outreach reflected the company’s commitment to extending the benefits of development to communities across the country.
“When a mother can access healthcare closer to home, when a child receives care, when a family receives information that can protect their health — that is connectivity making a difference. That is what we mean when we say we want to go beyond connectivity,” he said.
NetOne has previously undertaken health-related community interventions, including supporting the refurbishment of health facilities and providing equipment and other assistance to hospitals.
ZimSmart Villages chief operations officer Mr Tawanda Njerere said the partnership demonstrated how technology could help address geographical barriers to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
“Technology only becomes meaningful when it solves a real problem for people.
“Through our collaboration with NetOne, we are using connectivity as a bridge between rural communities and healthcare professionals, helping bring healthcare closer to the people,” he said.
Mr Njerere said the partnership was also supporting the broader adoption of telemedicine and digital-health solutions, which could enable communities to access healthcare services without having to travel long distances.
The outreach is part of NetOne’s wider 30th anniversary campaign, which seeks to use the company’s telecommunications infrastructure and partnerships to support communities in different parts of the country.
NetOne says its broader strategy is aligned with NDS2, particularly the modernisation of the economy through information and communication technologies and digital solutions.
The company’s 30th anniversary campaign comes as it continues to position itself not only as a telecommunications provider, but also as a partner in community development through digital solutions.
