Online Reporter
Mashudu Netsianda, [email protected]
FOR Ms Simisa Ncube, the lengthy, pot-holed journey from Somgolo Village to St Luke’s Hospital was often a terrifying gamble, particularly when she was heavily pregnant. With no dependable transport available, many expectant mothers like herself were compelled to endure hours in scotch carts, hoping and praying they would arrive safely.
However, a new chapter is unfolding for women in Lupane, thanks to a truly encouraging partnership between the Kusile Rural District Council (RDC) and Afrikaprojekt-Ubuntu Schales, a German humanitarian organisation.
Ms Ncube offers a warm smile as she walks past the newly built waiting mothers’ shelter at St Luke’s Hospital.
“This is more than just a building. Once completed, it will be a lifesaver. We are currently forced to squeeze into one small shelter, and some women sleep on the floor or even return home because the shelter we are using is so congested. However, with the new shelter taking shape, these challenges will soon be a thing of the past, as there will be enough space and the dignity we deserve as expectant mothers,” she said.
The new facilities, four in total, with two already complete and capable of housing up to 80 women, are part of a collaborative effort between Kusile RDC and Afrikaprojekt-Ubuntu Schales, which has been active in Lupane for over two decades. For women like Ms Thandeka Ncube from Gwambe, the impact is profound.
“Women who needed close medical supervision had no choice but to stay at home or risk long, tiring journeys to the hospital. This new facility will definitely change that,” she said.
Ms Tinashe Ngwenya of St Paul’s said the waiting mother’s shelter will go a long way in assisting the local community.
“Women requiring close supervision during their pregnancy were forced to travel long distances, as the current mother’s shelter is too small. The new facility will accommodate many more expectant mothers,” she said.
Her story mirrors that of many others in Lupane District, where access to maternal healthcare has long been a challenge.
St Luke’s Hospital, a beacon of medical care in the district, has often struggled to meet demand, particularly as it also serves as the provincial hospital.
Kusile RDC Chief Executive Officer Mr Sifiso Hadebe, said the need for additional maternity space had reached a crisis point, resulting in overcrowding at St Luke’s Hospital’s current mothers’ shelter.
“At St Luke’s Hospital, which currently serves as our provincial hospital, the number of expectant mothers is always high, yet the mothers’ waiting shelter is small, leading to overcrowding.
“We have partnered with Ubuntu Schales Trust, which is constructing mothers’ shelters and so far, they have completed two, with a capacity to accommodate up to 80 mothers at any given time,” he said.
Mr Hadebe said they expected the project to be commissioned later this year. He added that the new shelters will include not only sleeping spaces but also kitchens, ablution blocks, a theatre, and even a borehole, providing holistic support for mothers who often stay at the hospital for weeks before delivery.
Mr Petros Moyo, a village elder, said the development is about more than just health.
“This new facility is about dignity and community pride. When our women are taken care of, the whole community thrives. This shows that we are not forgotten,” he said.
Ubuntu Schales Trust, the implementing arm of Forderverein Afrikaprojekt Schales based in Saarbrücken, Germany, was inspired by the work of Dr Hans Josef Schales, an 86-year-old German doctor, who has devoted years of service at St Luke’s Mission Hospital.
The Trust’s projects span education, water and sanitation and health infrastructure, each grounded in the belief that lasting change starts with empowering people.
The construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital, a 250-bed public referral facility and a flagship project under the Second Republic, is progressing well, marking a significant step in the Government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare in line with Vision 2030.
Once operational, the hospital will reduce the burden on St Luke’s Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, which serve patients from Lupane, Nkayi, Gokwe and Binga districts.
The facility will also serve as a training centre for health specialists, enhancing the region’s healthcare capacity and providing top-tier services locally.
The hospital’s completion is expected to bring relief to thousands of villagers who have long endured challenges accessing healthcare, marking a new era in the province’s health services.
