Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent
Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals’ Adlam House nurses’ residence and Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward in Harare are expected to reopen starting early next month after undergoing extensive refurbishment to modernise the facilities.
The refurbishment project marks the most extensive rehabilitation of the country’s largest referral health centre since its opening as Andrew Fleming Hospital nearly 70 years ago.
The nurses’ residence is targeted for reopening by February 14, while the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward is expected to be operational by April 18, according to Government.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga yesterday toured the two facilities where he assessed progress on the project.
Mr Guvamatanga said Treasury would immediately begin releasing additional funding for the project following consultations with the contractor, Prevail International, to close remaining gaps and ensure the facilities open fully operational.
He said the nurses’ residence was about 60 to 70 percent complete, with structural works largely done.
“You do not want to open a beautiful hospital with good equipment but without medicines,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
“So, taking into account equipment, beds, linen and drugs, I would say we are around 60 to 70 percent complete.”
He said Government had set firm timelines for completion.
“The nurses’ residence should be ready for operation by Valentine’s Day and Mbuya Nehanda by Independence Day,” Mr Guvamatanga said, adding that immediate discussions with the contractor would focus on funding priorities to meet those targets.
“Immediately after the meeting, I am dragging the contractor to my office so that we get a better understanding of the key funding requirements that would allow us to complete the nurses’ residence so that it’s ready for operation, I would say probably by Valentine’s Day.”
The rehabilitation programme is being implemented in three phases, covering student accommodation, maternity facilities and the 1 400-bed main hospital.
The first phase focused on the refurbishment of the nurses’ residence, which had deteriorated to the point of housing only 40 student nurses out of a possible 353.
Upgrades include the drilling of eight boreholes, installation of a 30 000-litre water tank, a 120kW solar power system, and the construction of a swimming pool for recreation.
The second phase targets the Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, where works include removal of old floors and ceilings, plumbing repairs, and upgrades to patient reception areas, nurseries and infection control systems.
The third and most extensive phase will focus on the refurbishment of the 1 400-bed main hospital block.
Mr Guvamatanga said Government was engaging Prevail International to deliver a full turnkey solution, ensuring the hospital opens fully equipped and ready for use.
“When we say turnkey, we mean the doctor is given the keys and the hospital is ready to operate — beds, linen, cups, everything,” he said.
“We are ready to operate fully equipped with beds, linens, teaspoons, cups, it is a complete service that we are actually expecting to get because we don’t want to be running around with tenders or other things.”
Mr Guvamatanga said discussions would focus on funding priorities to address remaining gaps, particularly specialised equipment.
“There are a few areas where we need to strike first in terms of getting some of the equipment. It’s got to be time for it to come through,” he said.
The Parirenyatwa upgrade forms part of a broader transformation of public health infrastructure, with similar works under way at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and in Mutoko, largely under the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 and 2 frameworks.
“As you can see, we now have world-class facilities, but again this is only the beginning,” said Mr Guvamatanga.
“Parirenyatwa is a group of hospitals. We have just done the nurses residence, we have just done the Mbuya Nehanda, we still have the Annex, we still have many other departments, we still have the main hospital.
“NDS1 was about prioritising infrastructure so that we create the best for our economy to grow.
“NDS2 is prioritising the social services. It’s about health, it’s about education, it’s about making sure that we’ve got world-class facilities.”
He said the health sector upgrade programme, running from 2026 to 2030 under NDS2, represented good value for money from a Treasury perspective.
Last year, President Mnangagwa conducted an unannounced visit to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, where he expressed concern over its dilapidated condition and directed authorities to fast-track refurbishment works.
The wider Government programme to modernise the health sector includes upgrading infrastructure, equipping facilities, and improving drug and consumables supply, with a focus on provincial and district hospitals across the country.
