Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE US$2 million 20-bed private ward at Zvishavane District Hospital (ZDH) has finally opened its door to patients after it was licensed by the Health Professionals Authority of Zimbabwe (HPAZ).
The state- of- the- art facility is envisaged to contribute towards the Second Republic’s thrust to commercialise the provision of affordable health care.
Government is accelerating the implementation of programmes and sustainable strategies for the provision of quality and affordable universal health care.
The refurbished and fully equipped private ward will enable the hospital to provide quality specialist health care services which in the past was only available in big cities such as Bulawayo and Harare.
President Mnangagwa on October 7, 2020 commissioned the facility that was constructed by Mimosa Mining Company (MMC) as part of its programme of ploughing back to the local community.
The President commended MMC for funding the construction of the project.
The private ward had been lying idle for the past two years allegedly due to issues to do with bureaucracy and delays by some health inspection, monitoring and evaluation regulatory bodies to license the facility.
Due to the delays, locals had to travel to Gweru, Harare, and Bulawayo to seek specialist healthcare.
ZDH serves a wide geographical area covering a total of 24 health centres and the fully equipped state of the art private ward is expected to provide quality specialist healthcare services to patients from those clinics.
The private ward is offering competitive tariffs, shorter waiting period, improved queue management, improved admission facilities, dedicated theatres and onsite consulting rooms for doctors.
It offers patients a wide range of specialist services and physicians on a 24-hour basis.
In an interview yesterday, Mrs Clotilda Chimbwanda, head of HPAZ confirmed that they have licensed the facility.
HPAZ is the umbrella body for the health profession councils, an an appealing body for any dispute between health practitioners and their councils and it also protects public interest.
“I can confirm that the Zvishavane District Hospital 20 bed private ward was licensed and is now operational,” said Mrs Chimbwanda.
She said as HPA, they are not aware of what caused the delays in the submission of the paperwork, which was required to register the private ward.
“We only received paperwork recently and immediately went to inspect the facility. It took about four days to inspect it and now it has been licensed,” said Mrs Chimbwanda.
Midlands provincial medical director Dr Mary Muchekeza said the facility is now open to members of the public.
MMC general manager Mr Steve Ndiyamba said: “I heard that the US$2million 20-bed private ward is now open to the public after it was given a licence by the HPA. It’s good news to the people of Zvishavane and the surrounding areas.”
Chief Mapanzure who said the opening of the unit was long overdue, said he was happy that now people can seek specialist healthcare services locally.
“The private ward reflects Government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare,” he said
A Zvishavane resident, Mrs Tinevimbo Chaminuka said the opening of the ward has ignited excitement among residents.
“We remain indebted to Mimosa Mining Company and the Second Republic for assisting the community by establishing this facility.
People no longer travel to Gweru, Masvingo, Bulawayo or Harare to seek quality health services,” she said.
Online Reporter