Chronicle Editor
RAYMOND JARAVAZA, [email protected]
MEMBERS of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with their families and members of the public braved the cold weather yesterday to receive free medical services offered by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which organised a public health expo at the Ross Camp Police Station.
The ongoing health expo is targeting members of the country’s security forces — police, army and prison services in order to give them an opportunity to get themselves checked out by medical professionals for free. Members of the public were also welcome.
“We are holding a health expo with a bias towards members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to promote healthy lifestyles among members of the police force,” said Mrs Buhle Maboyi, one of the administrators of the SDA health expo.
“We believe that a healthy police force will give the residents of Bulawayo a better service. Thus, members of the police force deserve to be checked out by medical professionals free of charge.
“Members of the public were also welcome to consult the medical personnel at the health expo for free and engage with specialists such as a gynaecologist, optometrist, dentist, surgeon, general practitioner and urologist,” she added.
“The main emphasis for this health expo is for residents, together with members of the ZRP to come and see the medical specialists for early detection of diseases or health conditions they might not be aware of and start the treatment early.”
A resident from Makokoba suburb, Mrs Lindiwe Masuku, said she braved the chilly weather and walked from her home to the Ross Camp Police Station to have her hypertension (blood pressure) condition checked.
“I have not been feeling well for some time so I came here so that the doctors could check if my health is deteriorating as a result of the hypertension condition that I suffer from,” said Mrs Masuku.
A family planning stand at the health expo that was held inside a hall at the police station also offered free services to women who thronged it since morning.
Mr Amos Ndiweni said he was interested in getting tips on how he could lose weight as he has been battling obesity for a number of years.
Dr Allan Nguluve, a specialist surgeon who works for Mpilo Central Hospital and is also in the private sector, emphasised the importance of doing medical check-ups in order to detect diseases early.
“The importance of medical check-ups is that diseases are detected early as most diseases are difficult to treat when they are in their late stages,” he said.
Dr Nguluve said people must take advantage of such medical expos that offer free services.
“Today we have medical specialists from various medical fields under one roof and all it takes is to come here and get assisted,” he said.
Online Reporter