Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
THE City of Mutare has set its sights on restoring seven-day operations across all its nine council-run clinics in the long run, in what officials describe as a gradual, but deliberate effort to strengthen access to primary health care services.
This comes after the local authority announced that it has reopened Dangamvura Polyclinic and City Clinic during weekends and public holidays, beginning February 28.
The two facilities are now operating from 7.30am to 4.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, marking the first step in a broader plan to extend services across the municipality.
In an interview, the city’s spokesperson, Mr Charles Sadondo, said the long-term goal is clear.
“Our aim in the future is to open all nine clinics throughout the seven days of the week. It is only a matter of time before we get there. Access to health services is a basic human right, and being sick does not choose that it is a weekend or public holiday,” he said.
The local authority operates Dangamvura Polyclinic, Chikanga Clinic, City Clinic, Mutare Infectious Diseases Hospital, Fern Valley Clinic, Sakubva Clinic, Hobhouse Clinic, Florida Clinic and Gimboki Clinic. Years ago, all the facilities operated throughout the week.
However, high staff turnover within health institutions forced the local authority to scale down operations, resulting in clinics closing during weekends and public holidays.
“Years ago, all our clinics used to be open during the weekends and public holidays, but because of higher staff turnover, we ended up having them closed during weekends and public holidays.
“This is because we had no staff that could work the whole week,” said Mr Sadondo.
The closure of clinics outside normal weekday hours had drawn growing concern from residents who found it inconvenient and costly to seek medical attention elsewhere when council facilities were not operating. In response to these concerns, the city has engaged additional health personnel on a locum basis to bridge the staffing gap and restore weekend services, beginning with the two busiest facilities.
“We have engaged staff to work on a locum basis during such days, and as a result Dangamvura Polyclinic and City Clinic in town will be open during those days.
“This could be nurses working in other facilities who would be on off or on their leave days during the weekends and public holidays. This is part of our phased approach towards reopening all nine clinics throughout the week,” Mr Sadondo said.
He said under the current arrangement, Dangamvura Polyclinic will serve residents from Dangamvura, Hobhouse, Fern Valley and surrounding areas during weekends and public holidays.
City Clinic, located in the Central Business District, will cater for residents from other suburbs across Mutare like Greenside, Morningside, Chikanga, Florida etc.
The strategy, according to Mr Sadondo, is meant to ensure equitable access, while managing limited human resources in a sustainable manner.
“We were having complaints from residents who were finding it inconvenient to have the clinics closed on such days because getting sick does not choose days. We listened to those concerns and began working on a solution, and this is the solution that we have produced,” he said.
He said the initiative will significantly enhance access to timely and affordable health care across Mutare, ensuring that medical attention is available every day of the week, regardless of the calendar. Mr Sadondo also stressed the importance of continuous access to primary health care services, particularly in urban settings where populations are dense and communicable diseases can spread rapidly if not promptly attended to.
“By extending operating hours, we expect to reduce pressure on referral institutions and emergency units like Sakubva District Hospital, Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital and others, while also improving early diagnosis and treatment of common ailments,” he said.
Council clinics are primary health care facilities which provide services including maternal and child health care, immunisation, management of chronic conditions, treatment of minor illnesses, and health education. He said the reopening of weekend services at Dangamvura Polyclinic and City Clinic is therefore being viewed as a crucial step towards rebuilding a fully functional municipal health system.
Mr Sadondo expressed optimism that as staffing levels stabilise, the remaining seven clinics will gradually resume seven-day operations.
“It is not an overnight process, but we are moving in that direction.
“Our ultimate objective is to have all our clinics accessible to residents throughout the week,” he said.
He added that restoring full operations is, not only about convenience, but about upholding the fundamental right to health.
“Health care is a basic human right. As a local authority, we have a responsibility to ensure that our residents can access services when they need them,” he said.
