Chronicle Editor
Yolanda Mlilo Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS of Hyde Park Methodist Village on the outskirts of Bulawayo have expressed concern over the lack of healthcare services infrastructure in their area where they are forced to travel long and costly distances to the nearest clinics in town.
The settlement is part of Bulawayo’s Ward 17 which encompasses Pumula.
The villagers complain that the lack of a nearby health service centre forces them to either walk to Pumula, Gwabalanda or Luveve Clinics from where they are usually transferred to either Mpilo or UBH depending on their conditions.
Ms Privilege Moyo, a resident of Hyde Park Methodist Village said access to healthcare services in their area was a challenge.
“In order to get medical assistance, we walk a long distance to either Pumula or Luveve where we board taxis that take us to the clinic if we have funds. Due to the lack of proper road infrastructure, sometimes there will be no transport and people are forced to walk and it’s a long and painful distance especially when one is not feeling well,” she said.
Another resident, Ms Doris Ndlovu said they risk getting mugged while traveling to get medical assistance because the routes to both the clinics are in bushy areas.
Another resident who preferred the name Thamusanqa said while they acknowledge and are thankful for the visits they occasionally get from medical professionals in the city twice every month, it was best if they could have a local clinic constructed for them arguing that people get sick daily and not twice a month.
“We appreciate the visits but that is only a stop-gap measure. Council should consider a long-term solution to the issue and that is the construction of a clinic.
“We are only reminding them because the population is growing here and the need for such facilities should not be forgotten,” he said.
Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo said in an interview that while they were aware of the challenges faced by the community, they had tried to cover that gap by providing medical personal through visits.
“We are aware that in peri-urban areas there are no clinics and they have to walk long distances to get medical assistance. As the City of Bulawayo however we have twice-a-month visits for peri-urban areas to give them medical assistance.”
She said it was encouraging to note that St Peter’s residents have applied for land where they hoped to build a vocational training school, hall, library and clinic.
Cllr Moyo said the Presbyterian Church has also notified them that they have applied for a piece of land where they also hoped to construct a clinic for the community.”
“Bulawayo is a developing city and the construction of a clinic for Hyde Park Methodist Village is in our masterplans but due to financial problems, this may sometimes happen. So, health professionals will continue visiting twice a month,” she added.
Bongani Ndlovu