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Mollet Ndebele, Sunday News Reporter
NKAYI Rural District Council is working on rehabilitating clinics and building more health institutions in each ward to make health services accessible to the majority.
In an interview, council chief executive officer Mr Zimbabwe Ndlovu said they have started rehabilitating two clinics and they have also managed to start the construction of three more in the district.
“We have six health tenders in different wards but so far three clinics are under construction. We have managed to rehabilitate two clinics by building new staff houses and waiting mothers’ shelters. Ntena Clinic is still at the preliminary stage then Paniyamloyiswa Clinic started early September and Kwesengulube Clinic started some time last year but it is not yet complete,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said the infrastructure at existing clinics was old and rehabilitation is meant to help restore the usability of the clinics and staff accommodation.
“We are getting funds from the Government, the council and some partners. We are still looking for more partners to help,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu added that the initiative will decongest the few clinics in the district and also create employment for locals.
“Having a clinic in every ward will help the district employ young people as handymen and unemployed nurses in the community,” said Mr Ndlovu.
Members of the community said the development will shorten the distance they were walking to access health facilities.
Mrs Sibongile Ngwenya, a local said most people walk at least 15 kilometres to get treatment.
“I think this is a good initiative by the council because it will make it easy for us to take our children to clinics when they are sick,” she said.
Online Reporter