Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
THE modernisation of Zimbabwe’s health sector is gathering momentum, with major refurbishment works underway at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the country’s largest referral hospital, as part of the Government’s broader plan to establish world-class healthcare facilities.
The programme is aimed at enhancing the quality of care for patients at public health institutions.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora yesterday toured the hospital to assess progress, accompanied by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, and their permanent secretaries, Dr Aspect Maunganidze and Mr Nick Mangwana.
The visit followed President Mnangagwa’s unannounced inspection of Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe hospitals last month.
Dr Mombeshora said the long-term goal is to transform Parirenyatwa into a state-of-the-art facility that meets international standards.
Refurbishment of the main hospital will be done in phases to avoid disruptions to service delivery.
“We hope we will be able to come up with a new-look hospital that is modern, comparable with any other hospital in the world,” he said.
“We are also looking at bringing in new equipment, new beds, new theatre equipment, new X-rays, new CT scans, everything should be working by the time we start operating in the new facility.”
Dr Momebshora said some preliminary work is being done ahead of the implementation of a comprehensive plan.
“The next will be the main hospital, but we think for the main hospital it will be done in phases, because we cannot close the hospital, so it will be done in phases.
“So, we need that assessment to be done first, and then we can be told that phase one can take so many months, and phase two can take so much years, whatever it takes.”
As part of the ongoing works, the ministers toured Adlam House, which is the student nurses’ accommodation, and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital.
Mothers have temporarily been moved to the main hospital to facilitate renovations, while efforts continue to relocate neonatal patients and sensitive medical equipment.
Dr Mombeshora said the two trainee nurses’ hostel blocks, which contain 346 rooms, were extensively damaged, particularly the water and sewer systems, ceilings, floors and roofing.
Renovations began three weeks ago and are expected to be completed by September.
“So, the contractor started with the first block, because there are two blocks there,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“They started with the first block, they did the roof; they have done the ceilings and they have also put in eight boreholes and water tanks for each block.
“Now, they have also done the floors, they are almost complete with the floors and they are now working inside to put new cupboards and electricity.”
Dr Mombeshora said a solar system has been installed.
At Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, Dr Mombeshora indicated that there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.
“We had to move patients out,” he said. “All mothers who were in here have been moved out.
“We are only left with some neonates who are upstairs there, who need to go into the main hospital.
“But, where they are supposed to go, there is also some work being done to make sure that when they get there, it is ready, like a proper ward for the neonate, with oxygen and electricity plugs working.
“We also have to move all the equipment to some storage.”
Dr Mombeshora indicated that although they were still scouting for a bigger place, some machines have already been moved to some storage facilities.
“We have already started moving some equipment to that storage so that when work starts here, there will be no damage to the equipment and also there will be no dust damaging the equipment,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora highlighted that once renovations are complete at trainee nurses’ residence and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, they will then move into the main hospital.
