Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
Health service delivery in Mashonaland West province has received a major boost with the addition of six utility vehicles for immunisation outreach, an ambulance and an oxygen distribution truck.
The vehicles include an ambulance and US$20 000 cash for fuel donated by President Mnangagwa to Siakobvu Hospital in Kariba District.
Immunisation outreach vehicles, donated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative, have been earmarked for Sanyati, Chegutu and Zvimba districts.
Another vehicles, donated by Unicef, has been set aside for emergency preparedness in the province.
Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo said President Mnangagwa’s Government had continued to demonstrate its attention to the country’s health delivery system.
“This is one of the numerous examples of Government’s commitment to ensure that everyone has access to heealthcare,” said Minister.
“President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no-one and no place behind finds resonance with these consistent gestures. With the ambulance for Siakobvu Hospital we are trying to make sure no one is left behind.”
The vehicles, she said, would complement numerous others allocated to the province.
The province has also received 70 solar-powered scooters for outreach programmes in remote areas.
Provincial Medical Director Dr Celestino Dhege said the vehicles would bolster the province’s health delivery capacity.
“Our province is prone to outbreaks, some of them emanating from human-wildlife interactions, and these vehicles will improve our state of preparedness and capacity to respond,” he said.
Siakobvu Hospital administration assistant Mr Telar Godzi said the ambulance was suited for the daunting terrain, improving access to health services.
“We have about six clinics that are served by Siakobvu Hospital, and the ambulance will help improve access to people in areas that have a poor road network,” said Mr Godzi.
He hailed President Mnangagwa and the Government for a steady stream of life-transforming projects in the previously marginalised community.
