Online Reporter
Welcome to our live coverage as the Minister of Health and Childcare, Dr Douglas Mombeshora and his Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services counterpart, Dr Jenfan Muswere, tour the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
This visit is part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to assess the progress of refurbishment initiatives for health facilities, following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s recent inspections.
Join us as we bring you updates on the improvements aimed at enhancing healthcare services in Zimbabwe.
Our Reporter Don Makanyanga is at Parirenyatwa and will provide updates.
The biggest referral hospital in Zimbabwe
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals started as a small hospital in 1890.
From this date, small satellite health facilities were established within this complex such that by 1963, this Group of Hospitals included Salisbury Central Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, Lady Chancellor Maternity Hospital, Orthopaedic Centre and African Outpatient Clinic.
When this Group of Hospitals was renamed Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after independence, the health facilities in this complex had their names changed to reflect the new political order.
To date, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has become the largest hospital complex in the country, with a capacity of one thousand eight hundred (1800) beds and a workforce of over 2000 staff members.
The hospital is located in the Belgravia area of Harare and was built on a 400 000 square meter piece of land.
It is governed by the Health Services Act (2004).
Renovations commence in Adlam House
The project manager for renovations, Emmanuel Garwe, is leading the tour to check progress being made in renovating Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
The ministers are currently touring the Adlam House, where renovations have since commenced.
Adam Hall houses trainee nurses and is more than five decades old.
A big player in the health sector
The Group of Hospitals is made up of:
- The Main Complex
- Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Home
- Sekuru Kaguvi Eye Hospital
- Annexe Psychiatric Unit
Furthermore, the Hospital is a centre of excellence for courses run by the University of Zimbabwe and the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare such as:
- Basic Nursing Course
- Post Basic Nursing Course
These Include:
- Midwifery
- Ophthalmic Nursing
- Operating Theater Nursing
- Anaesthetic Nursing
- Intensive Care Nursing
- Medical laboratory technology and
- Hospital Food Service Supervisors’ Training course.
- Undergraduate and post graduate courses in medicine, surgery, pharmacy, Rehabilitation, dental and nursing.
The Hospital is also a World Health Organisation Collaboration for Post-graduate training in Oncology and Radiography.
Health Minister applauds progress
Renovations have commenced at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s visit to health facilities last month.
As part of checking the progress being made at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora and his Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services counterpart, Dr Jenfan Muswere, toured the health facility this afternoon.
Also present at the tour was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Childcare, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana.
Renovations have since begun on a trainee nurses’ residence, Adlam House, and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital.
Speaking after the tour, Minister Mombeshora said that after the renovations, the hospital will become a state-of-the-art facility.
Renovations are ongoing at Adlam House, which accommodates student nurses. There was a lot of damage to the infrastructure, from the roof, ceiling, floors, sewer system, to the water system.
“The contractor started with the first block and we hope that by the beginning of September, that block will be done.
“We hope to come up with a new look hospital – modern and comparable with any other hospital in the world,” said Minister Mombeshora.
Online Reporter