Chronicle Editor
Amanda Mlevu , Sunday News Reporter
FANIYA Mlotshwa Rural Health Centre, a project that was started by villagers in a bid to curb the problem of travelling a long distance to access health services is at 99 percent completion after the Nkayi Rural District Council chipped in with their allocation of devolution funds.
The clinic is located in Mdengelele Village under Ward 26.
It will bring relief to villagers who used to walk close to 20km to access health facilities at Sebhumane or Sikhobokhobo areas.
Nkayi RDC chairperson Councillor Silibele Mpofu said the intended purpose of the health care facility is to reduce the distance travelled in seeking health assistance in the area.
“Currently the Mdengelele community travels a distance of about 20km to the nearest health facility either Sebhumane Clinic or Sikhobokhobo Clinic, so that is why as the Rural District Council we saw it fit to help bring relief to the community,” said Clr Mpofu.
He said facilities like the Gwelutshena Clinic are across the Shangani River and they are inaccessible during the rainy season.
Villagers started building the clinic in 2019 as a community project, then the council came with devolution funds and progress has been unstoppable since then.
With the National Development strategy 1 (NDS1) having social amenities and infrastructural development as some of its major pillars, councillors have resorted to aiding the community with health care provision with the hope that it will lessen the burden of villagers worrying about the distance before seeking help.
“The clinic will bring help to the community and we hope that we continue providing such services to the community, in this clinic they will not have to worry about water as it has a solarised borehole which also supplies Mdengelele Primary School,” said Clr Mpofu.
The facility has an outpatient block, inpatient block and a labour facility that will ensure that villagers get all the services in one place.
“This will also bring relief to pregnant women who have to travel long distances to wait in maternity wards and for their regular check-ups,” said Clr Mpofu.
The clinic is expected to boost service delivery, particularly in the village where a majority of citizens often face the challenge of walking long distances to seek help.
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