Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A 40KW solar plant has been installed at Manama Mission Hospital in Gwanda District, Matabeleland South, a development expected to significantly improve healthcare services in the province in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The solar system, donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will supply electricity to key departments including the theatre, maternity ward, male and female wards and the mortuary.
The rural health facility has been struggling to deliver effective services due to frequent power cuts, which have affected critical operations and forced some patients to seek treatment at Gwanda Provincial Hospital.
The installation comes at a time when the hospital refurbished its theatre last year. Reliable power is also expected to enable the hospital to reopen its mortuary, which has been non-operational for years.
The hospital’s responsible authority, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ), working in partnership with the Government and other development partners, has been spearheading efforts to upgrade the facility to improve service delivery.
Manama Mission Hospital medical superintendent, Dr Solomon Madondo, said the institution had been facing challenges due to unreliable power supply.
“We have been relying on small generators, which can hardly meet the hospital’s electricity demands. The improved power supply marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards enhanced healthcare service delivery,” he said.
“With this new solar plant, our theatre, which was recently equipped can now function at full capacity. There will be no need to transfer caesarean section patients to Gwanda Provincial Hospital as we will now have reliable power backup.”
Dr Madondo said the hospital will also be able to properly store medicines in the pharmacy and reopen its mortuary.
“We will now be able to reopen our mortuary since there will be power 24/7, which will reduce the burden on families who have been forced to use private mortuary services,” he said.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe presiding Bishop, Dr Michael Dube said the solar project demonstrates how strategic partnerships can improve the lives of communities.
He said Manama Mission Hospital continues to be upgraded through support from various development partners after it was damaged by a storm several years ago.
“We have to appreciate the critical role of reliable energy in healthcare. As a church, we continue to support the country’s development agenda and we realise the need to adapt to prevailing developmental needs,” said Dr Dube.
“We eagerly anticipate continued collaboration as we work together to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. As a church, we are an auxiliary to the Government and understand the role we have in developing our nation.”
Dr Dube said the hospital serves a large catchment area, covering communities in Kezi in Matobo District and Zezani in Beitbridge District.
“This shows how crucial this health institution is to the community. Some of our clients are not able to pay for health services, which is why we ensure that services remain subsidised,” he said.
Gwanda South legislator and Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Omphile Marupi said the solarisation of the hospital aligns with the Second Republic’s NDS2 blueprint, which prioritises infrastructure development as Zimbabwe works towards attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
“With the abundant sun at our disposal, Government and its partners are tapping into this natural resource to bring development to communities,” he said.
“Using solar energy will enable the hospital to operate without fear of blackouts, ensuring that the refurbished theatre and other departments function without interruption.”
Dr Marupi said Government will continue pushing for more facilities in the district to be refurbished or constructed, in order to improve healthcare services in Gwanda South.
