Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Zimpapers Reporter
THE National Aids Council (NAC), in partnership with ZimbosAbantu — a non-governmental organisation providing community primary healthcare services — has established two mobile clinics in Cowdray Park and Emganwini suburbs of Bulawayo.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to complement Government programmes aimed at improving healthcare service delivery across the country.
Speaking during a meeting ahead of a media tour organised by NAC yesterday, ZimbosAbantu chief executive officer, Mr Tawanda Mushawedu, said the mobile clinics are designed to improve access to healthcare, particularly for women.
“We are now in Bulawayo, where we have set up two mobile clinics in Cowdray Park and Emganwini to provide integrated primary healthcare services. Our mobile clinics are equipped with the latest technology and staffed by dedicated healthcare professionals,” he said.
Mr Mushawedu explained that the project was initially rolled out in Mashonaland East before expanding to Harare and now Bulawayo.
“We decided to continue with mobile clinics because, as the population grows, social infrastructure is failing to keep pace. As ZimbosAbantu, we are trying to bridge that yawning gap in service delivery. We want to help reduce the distance people — particularly women — must walk to access healthcare. The services may exist, but in many cases, they are not affordable,” he said.
In Bulawayo, the organisation has employed 20 people to support service delivery. Through its partnership with NAC, ZimbosAbantu is offering a wide range of primary healthcare services, including free HIV testing and screening, diabetic testing, blood pressure monitoring, prostate cancer screening,and wound dressing.
“We test people for free and write prescriptions for them to purchase medication. Sometimes our clinics have the drugs in stock, which we then sell at affordable prices,” said Mr Mushawedu.
Progressing Health Club secretary in Cowdray Park, Ms Nyengererai Mateka, said the community has warmly embraced the initiative.
“People are coming in numbers to access these services for free, and we really appreciate what ZimbosAbantu has brought to our community,” she said.
The initiative aligns with the Government’s broader health delivery goals under the National Health Strategy (2021–2025), which prioritises universal health coverage and reducing inequalities in access to healthcare. The Second Republic has been expanding health infrastructure through projects such as the Health Resilience Fund, the establishment of community health posts, and the refurbishment of district and provincial hospitals.
The decentralisation of health services, particularly in high-density suburbs and rural areas, is intended to ensure that no one is left behind.
Mr Mushawedu said their long-term goal is to expand services into rural areas, resources permitting.
“For now, the greatest need is in high-density suburbs where the disease burden is high. For example, a small area can have many people affected by HIV. We intend to expand into more areas in Bulawayo beyond these two suburbs,” he said.
