Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
THE X-ray machine at Plumtree District Hospital has started to be functional after close to a three-year hiatus after a software it was using expired.
The software which is a flash drive costing about US$2 000 was bought mid last-year by well-wishers but was holed up in Harare and only managed to get to Plumtree this month.
In recent years, patients have had to endure difficulties of easily accessing health services as they had to travel over 100 kilometres to Bulawayo.
In a telephone interview, Mangwe acting district medical officer Dr Joe Nganunu confirmed the development and said they started offering X-ray services last Monday.
“It’s true that Plumtree District Hospital could not offer proper X-ray services to the community because of the expired X-ray software and I’m happy to confirm that through the efforts of Dr Themba Bulle and the Plumtree Hospital Helping Hands we managed to get the X-ray licence dongle.
“We have since commenced offering X-ray services to our community as from Monday, 8 February and we appreciate this gesture which has made management of our patients easier,” said Dr Nganunu.
Dr Nganunu expressed gratitude to Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore and the Ministry of Health and Child Care permanent secretary Air Commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza for facilitating the process of clearing the X-ray licence dongle which spent months at Robert Mugabe International Airport.
Close associate to the donors, Mr Losper Mpande said the community has been boosted timeously considering the health pandemic effects.
“The X-ray machine was acquired from China and had not been working since 2018 because the X ray software licence had expired. Many patients could not travel 100km to Bulawayo for X-rays as the transport fees are expensive with Covid-19 lockdown travel restrictions making the situation worse.
“In August 2020, Dr Themba Bulle and Mrs Senzeni Bulle stepped in and bought the X-ray software licence dongle from China. The Plumtree Helpings Hands, of which Dr Themba Bulle is a member, had realised the need for the X ray licence dongle. The new X-ray licence software dongle was received at the Harare international airport on 24 August 2020.
“After a lengthy process involving DHL, the Ministry of Health and Childcare , the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Finance, Zimra and Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, the dongle X-ray licence finally arrived in Bulawayo on the afternoon of Wednesday 3 February 2021,” said Mr Mpande.
Mr Mpande noted that another need for the hospital that has been previously identified is the expansion of the expecting mothers’ dormitory.
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