Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa will today grace the Ingutsheni Central Hospital fundraising luncheon to be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
The fundraising is aimed at raising US$5 million to be channelled towards the refurbishment of the referral hospital and construction of a state-of-the-art drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centre.
The luncheon is being organised by the Office of Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Ingutsheni Central Hospital chief medical officer Dr Nemache Mawere indicated that the referral hospital is in need of a facelift.
Dr Mawere said the central hospital has been operating under dilapidated infrastructure over the past years.
He expressed hope that Ingutsheni Central Hospital would be refurbished to the same standards as Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo General Hospital in Bulawayo.
Refurbishment works at Parirenyatwa are almost 95 percent complete.
“The current state of our institution is not good. The hospital’s infrastructure is dilapidated due to years of neglect and poor maintenance,” Dr Mawere said.
“This needs to be done at a level similar to Parirenyatwa and Mpilo, which are currently undergoing refurbishment. The focus is on refurbishing the premises.”
Dr Mawere said the hospital’s wards need upgrading and there is also a need for the procurement of new laundry machines.
“The upgrades will help improve our work, staff morale and ambience for our clients,” he said.
“Preparations seem to be going well and we look forward to a very successful event. May all those who received invites respond accordingly.
“Also, even those that may have been missed by invitations, please feel very invited and contribute towards this just cause. Use your corporate responsibility for this national programme.”
Permanent Secretary in the Office of Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi, Dr Benson Martins Dube, said those who wish to participate can send their contributions to the referral hospital.
Dr Dube said everyone is free to attend the fundraising luncheon.
“Please check the press for more details. Let us make the 20th of March a day to reckon with in realising the aspirations of the underprivileged and mental health care in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“To accommodate everyone and leave no one and no place behind, we have extended our tables to include Category D (US$500), Category E (US$200) and Category F (US$100).
“So, everyone is invited to participate at this fundraising event. Let us be part of this grand project,” he said.
