Online Reporter
David Munowenyu
THE Presidential Emergency Medical Scheme (PEMS) stands out as the main highlight of the year.
It is a health awareness campaign we launched that offered people free basic first aid training, as well as free treatment to everyone as long as you are a citizen of Zimbabwe.
You may be pleased to note that before opening Discovery Ambulance Services, I had the privilege of meeting His Excellency, the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa.
At the time, I was staying in Dubai.
I was presented to him as a potential investor and then he asked me what I can do for the country.
I already had a passion for ambulances, and I said to him I will invest ambulances that will run across the country.
He was shocked, and said, ‘If you think you can do that, do that, let us see.’
So, when we set up Discovery Ambulance Services, we had the President’s blessings, and we went to do outreach programmes in his name.
When I came to visit Zimbabwe, I was actually looking for opportunities in mining.
I also had no intention of staying in the country, but the chance to meet the President changed everything.
I had to stay to make sure that I fulfil the promise I had made to the President.
What I can tell you is that because of PEMS, Zimbabwe’s emergency medical sector will never be the same again.
We have managed to re-invigorate the sector by raising interest in ambulance use again.
Today, we see entrepreneurs interested in investing in ambulances again.
Local authorities are prioritising ambulance service on their budgets; mining companies are purchasing ambulances, while corporates are hiring ambulances for events.
In the sports arena, games will not start unless there is an ambulance on site.
At parties and national gatherings people are feeling safe because they can see ambulances that are ready to save their lives should an emergency arise.
Our partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care has also managed to break religious and traditional barriers in the health delivery system.
We have seen Vapositori embracing ambulances, as well as those with traditional beliefs like the Gule Wamkulu.
Because we have been able to convince and tell them that should you be involved in an accident you will need an ambulance despite your religious beliefs.
We also have individuals who have benefited from PEMS, like Karl Maxx Mukwindidza, who was bedridden for five years in Makoni and we found him when we went for an outreach.
Today, he is now learning at Danhiko College.
We have managed to change people’s perspectives as far as ambulances are concerned.
So, yes, I can happily say there are far too many success stories to share.
We have been funding ourselves for most of the programmes.
There are of course some cases where partners like TelOne and the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe have come through for us to do certain programmes, but we have been self-funding.
Association with ZANU PF
To begin with, I want to make it very clear: I am ZANU PF to the bone marrow.
I was born and bred in ZANU PF and have known no other party since birth.
I am a provincial member for ZANU PF Manicaland province.
However, I want to say this, when one is involved in an accident, there is no time to ask if they are ZANU PF or not.
Ambulances convey accident victims to the nearest health facilities despite their political persuasions.
Our ambulances are for everyone.
But, at the same time, ZANU PF has the people, they are working with the people, and we are interested in being where the people are.
We have managed to bring in affordable pre-hospital care facility.
Where private sector ambulances were charging US$3 500 for Masvingo-Harare trip, we are charging US$1 200.
For local calls, other players would charge US$300 and we are asking for US$120.
You will realise that the other players are actually reviewing their prices.
Secondly, we have put out ambulances with state-of-the-art machinery.
You will appreciate that our ambulances have defibrillators and suction machines, as well as drug and medication that will treat and stabilise casualties as we convey them to the nearest health facility.
So, we are making sure that we are taking someone to hospital who is already on treatment.
Then thirdly, and most importantly, we have highly skilled workers that will ensure that lives are saved at all costs.
Lastly, we have a toll-free number (991), where you can call free of charge so that you can get assistance.
I personally do not believe that there is competition in the emergency medical sector.
Because remember, our mandate is to save lives, not to make money.
So, if there is competition, it should be about how many lives we have saved.
But then again, we do not have enough ambulances in our country right now, which means that cake is big enough for all of us.
The patient-to-ambulance ratio is supposed to 1:10 000 but unfortunately, we are still at 1:100 000.
We still need more ambulances.
2026 and beyond
We are not stopping for anything.
If anything, we are gearing it up in 2026.
We will be going to places that we have never gone before around the country, like Kamativi, Chidamoyo, Fombe, Gachekache, Boli and many others.
We are also going to be introducing counselling services because we have realised that in most areas we have gone, some people are told that they have diseases that they do not know how to live with.
So, we are going with psychologists who will counsel patients on their new living conditions.
David Munowenyu is the CEO of Discovery Ambulances, which is presently spearheading the Presidential Emergency Medical Scheme.
