Newly-equipped theatre boosts healthcare delivery in Mbire

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke recently in MBIRE

THE installation of new state-of-the-art equipment by the Ministry of health and Child Care at Chitsungo Hospital has significantly improved theatre services, reducing delays in emergency procedures and transforming healthcare delivery for communities.

Chitsungo, which serves a largely low-income population in Mbire District, recently received an award for being the fastest hospital in the country to move patients from the decision-making stage to the operating theatre. This milestone has been attributed to a combination of modern equipment and a dedicated medical team.

“We achieved this because of early detection, timely preparation and teamwork. Whenever we have an emergency case that needs theatre, our team is ready, and every person plays their role on time. The proximity of our maternity department to the theatre also ensures we act quickly, especially in cases where the lives of both mother and child are at risk,” said Chitsungo Hospital medical officer, Dr Bravery Makuvaro.

In recent months, the hospital has been performing between 20 and 30 are Caesarean sections per month, a development that has not only reduced maternal deaths but also cut the cost burden on families who would otherwise be forced to transfer patients to Bindura Provincial Hospitals or other district hospitals.

“For a low-income community like ours, being able to manage most cases here saves families the high costs of referrals and ambulance fees. Patients are treated closer to home and in time, which improves their outcomes,” Dr Makuvaro added.

He said the transformation had been driven by the installation of a new anaesthetic machine, patient monitors, neonatal resuscitation equipment, and maternity beds.

These investments had enhanced the hospital’s capacity to respond to obstetric emergencies, while also ensuring that premature and low-birth-weight babies received proper care.

“Now, when a baby is born with complications, we can start resuscitation immediately, saving both the mother and child. The new incubators and monitors have been a game changer for our neonatal care,” said Dr Makuvaro.

Beyond maternity, the hospital has also benefitted from a modern X-ray machine installed last year, ending years of having to refer trauma patients to distant facilities for imaging. The new service has improved management of road traffic accident cases and reduced delays in diagnosis.

The hospital also introduced modern phototherapy machines for managing neonatal jaundice, replacing traditional reliance on exposing babies to direct sunlight.

Dr Makuvaro said with the phototherapy machine, jaundice could be resolved within 24 to 48 hours.

He said the improvements also had long-term health benefits of reducing risks of conditions such as cerebral palsy, which can occur in children after delayed interventions during birth.

Dr Makuvaro noted that while progress has been made, challenges remained, particularly around transport for critical cases that still required referral.

“Sometimes we see patients struggling to pay ambulance fees, and in complicated cases, faster transport like helicopters would make a difference,” he said.

The progress at Chitsungo is part of a broader Ministry of Health and Child Care initiative to strengthen healthcare delivery across the country through the provision of modern, functional equipment to all district and provincial hospitals. The programme, which falls under the Government’s thrust to achieve Universal Health Coverage in line with Vision 2030, has seen significant investment in upgrading operating theatres, diagnostic services, and maternity care facilities nationwide.

In recent years, hospitals across Zimbabwe have received new theatre machines, intensive care monitors, and imaging technology such as X-ray and ultrasound machines. These efforts are aimed at reducing preventable deaths, improving patient outcomes, and ensuring that rural communities have access to quality healthcare without the burden of costly referrals.

Health experts have noted that decentralising specialised services to district hospitals is key to reducing pressure on central hospitals and ensuring that life-saving care is accessible within the communities where it is most needed.