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Mukudzei Chingwere Herald Reporter
At least 1 047 out of a target of 1 860 public health facilities across the country, mainly in rural areas, now have access to solar energy under a Government programme designed to provide electricity and back-up power at all health centres in the country.
With already more than 56 percent implementation, the Government is forging ahead with the installation of solar systems at public clinics and hospitals across Zimbabwe.
The programme is aimed at ensuring guaranteed power supplies and countering the effects of any power outages that have been disrupting service delivery.
The power side is being complemented with the water side, an ongoing borehole drilling programme spearheaded by President Mnangagwa across the country to guarantee uninterrupted water supply with the centres hosting a clinic and the hospitals having a degree of priority, as they need good water supplies simply to do their work properly and safely.
This will aid into a sharp improvement in basic public health by converting pit latrines to flush toilets.
The new technology, already successful in a pilot phase, will allow flush toilets using little water in peri-urban and rural areas off the main sewers, and so cut back drastically on the risks of outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
Public health infrastructure had a major boost with Covid-19.
While Second Republic programmes were already in force, the pandemic made the need for better health services very clear and this resulted in acceleration of the planned upgrades and new facilities.
Improving the country’s facilities at health institutions, boosting the quality of health care, was used as a pivot to respond to the global Covid-19 pandemic and people will benefit long term.
President Mnangagwa declared the pandemic a state of disaster from the outset, leading to improved Government resource allocation for the health sector, as well as marshalling the private sector to come on board and help Government to boost health care delivery.
“So far 1 047 out of a target of 1 860 have been fitted with solar energy, under the solar for health initiative, which is being supported by partners,” said the Ministry of Health and Child Care spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri.
“The target is mainly those health facilities below the district hospital which initially did not have electricity, but other targeted health centres have grid electricity and the solar energy is for back-up.
“The development is aimed at addressing power challenges experienced by health facilities and the installation of solar back-up energy kits will ensure uninterrupted energy supply.
“Health facilities require consistent power supply for things like storing of medical consumables, and for doing other medical procedures,” said Mr Mujiri.
“Under the borehole drilling project, so far 201 health facilities have benefited.”
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported Zimbabwe in a very big way in the solar for health initiative.
According to UNDP, solar systems provide a stable, clean and reliable energy supply, even in the most remote locations, meaning more patients can access the health services they need.
Solar energy results in lower power bills for health facilities, and these vital budget savings can then be reinvested to support other priority health programmes or infrastructure.
UNDP says Solar for Health can make a significant contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its commitment to “leave no one behind” by reaching remote and under-served communities.
At the other end of the upgrade of medical systems, Zimbabwe will continue to offer more services at the top of the referral system, the major hospitals where the senior specialist work is done.
The Government is targeting more open heart surgery and radiotherapy services as part of efforts under the newly streamlined Ministry of Health and Child Care, to match best international practices.
Private sector buy-in is critical as the Government forges ahead with a comprehensive health services delivery strategy meant to improve quality in both private and public health facilities.
Health sector facilities renovations and re-equipping with a view to make Zimbabwe a preferred health services tourism destination while also cutting on outward bound trips is being prioritised.
Online Reporter