Mutare hospital rehab complete

Manicaland Bureau
THE rehabilitation of Mutare Infectious Disease Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), which was designated as the city’s isolation centre, has been completed with the institution now awaiting delivery of equipment.

Work at the ICU has been ongoing for almost two months with funding from Mutare City Council, Treasury and the Mutare business community.

Mutare Mayor Councillor Blessing Tandi described the completion of the centre as a huge relief as the city had been lagging behind in terms of isolation centres.

“We are happy to announce that all the outstanding internal works at the ICU have been completed with the help of the Mutare business community and central Government. What is now left is the equipment for the centre,” he said.

The procurement of equipment was in full swing and the City would start taking delivery of the equipment this week.

Government last week released $12 million to the Mutare City Council and part of the funds are being used to purchase equipment for the ICU.

Once equipped, the centre would have capacity to hold 10 patients, while the hospital’s main wing, which is also being rehabilitated, will house 30 patients.

The main wing was adopted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure a coordinated approach to the rehabilitation of health institutions as part of the fight against Covid-19.

Mutare City Council public relations officer Mr Spren Mutiwi said work on the hospital’s main wing was also progressing well and artisans from the municipality, the Department of Public Works, police and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service were working to beat the two-week deadline.

“The internal demolitions are already being worked on and it is a new look for Mutare Infectious Diseases Hospital (MIDH),” he said.

Manicaland has identified 23 isolation centres across the province with Mutare hosting two centres at MIDH and Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba said the completion of the isolation centre was a vote of confidence for the province as most of the work had been done by local businesses.