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George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
THE Second Republic has earned plaudits from Masvingo residents for using devolution funds to build a US$100 000 state-of-the-art Runyararo North West Medical Centre that has changed the health delivery complexion of Masvingo City and surrounding rural areas.
The new medical facility serves a catchment area of more than 30 000 people.
Runyararo North West Medical Centre was commissioned in the first quarter of this year and was financed with proceeds from devolution and council internal resources, as the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa walks the talk on its promise to leave no one and no place behind.
Such developments come as the nation angles towards attaining upper middle income economy status by 2030.
Residents of Runyararo West, Garikai, KMP and the greater Victoria Ranch suburbs were travelling long distances to access health services before Runyararo North West Medical Centre came on stream.
The nearest health centres for residents in these areas before the new medical centre were Runyararo Council Clinic in Mucheke D and Mazorodze Council Clinic in Mucheke A, which were now overwhelmed with demand for health services.
Demand for such services in the ancient city surged after the creation of the new suburb of Victoria Ranch where more than 10 000 new houses were built over the past decade.
Thanks to Government’s devolution fund, Masvingo City Council was able to build the modern medical facility that is now serving communities in the western part of the city.
The new medical centre has a maternity wing with a capacity of 18 beds expected to be commissioned before the end of this year.
Mrs Mercy Muputa of Runyararo West suburb hailed the Government for committing devolution resources to build the new medical centre.
‘’We are very grateful to the authorities for opening this medical centre because we are now deriving many health benefits from it, especially when it comes to having our young children get immunised,” she said.
“We used to struggle to have our children immunised and we would battle to get assistance at other nearby health centres which were always overwhelmed.’’
Mbuya Rumbidzai Dada, also of Runyararo West suburb, said the opening of the new Runyararo North West Medical Centre meant accessing health services was now easy as the new health centre was just next door, bringing convenience to many residents in the area.
“This medical facility is very handy for us residents in Runyararo West because we are no longer walking long distances to places like Runyararo Clinic (in Mucheke D) to access health services,” she said.
“We want to applaud the Government for availing resources to build this medical centre.’’
Mr Samson Jongwe of Aphiri suburb thanked the Government for building the new medical centre, saying it was an antidote to quickly fight disease outbreaks in suburbs such as Runyararo West, Victoria Ranch, Aphiri, KMP and parts of Garikai.
“We want to thank the authorities for this medical centre because we used to travel long distances to access health services at other clinics like Runyararo and Mazorodze (council clinics),” he said.
“We are now very close to a health centre, which means even in the event of an outbreak of a disease we will quickly get assistance.
“We are also happy that a maternity wing is almost complete at Runyararo North West Medical Centre and we hope the facility will be well stocked with drugs and also get an ambulance to deal with emergency health cases.”
Mr Prosper Shuro of Garikai suburb lauded the Government for opening the medical facility close to where people stay and ease congestion at other health centres dotted around Masvingo City.
Chairman of Vashandi Housing Co-operative Mr Goddard Dunira paid tribute to the Government for building the new medical centre, which he said was a health boon for thousands of residents in Victoria Ranch suburb.
“We want to applaud our Government under the leadership of President Mnangagwa for opening this new medical centre because more than 12 000 residents in Victoria Ranch and surrounding areas were struggling to access health services, a situation that was overwhelming other clinics that were built long back,” he said.
“We are happy with the way the Second Republic is walking the talk on implementing projects that have a bearing on people’s lives.’’
Vashandi Housing Co-operative Treasurer Mr Ephraim Gwanongodza described President Mnangagwa as a visionary leader truly committed to making sure that Zimbabwe attained an upper middle income economy by 2030.
“This new medical centre is testimony that we have a visionary leader in President Mnangagwa because the President is the mastermind and architect of the devolution programme that has revolutionised social services across Masvingo for the benefit of our people,’’ he said.
Masvingo Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa, said the new medical centre would decongest other existing health centres in the ancient city.
“The new medical centre will benefit residents in wards 2, 3 and 4 in the city and the greater Victoria Ranch and Garikai suburb,” he said.
“We are happy that we will soon open an 18-bed maternity wing at the health centre, taking the total cost of the project to US$100 000.’’
Opening of Runyararo North West Medical Centre has also decongested Masvingo Provincial Hospital, which is now dealing mostly with emergency cases.
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