Brenna Matendere
Chirumanzu—A new clinic built with devolution and council funds in rural Chirumanzu in the Midlands province has come as a relief to thousands of villagers who had been travelling long distances to access health care.
An estimated 5,000 villagers will benefit from Mudzengi Clinic that has been built in Chirumanzu’s Ward 16, cutting distances to health facilities by some 30km fro people living in Chiodza, Mahamara, Chishuku and Utah.
The clinic comprises an outpatient block, maternity ward, ante-natal care room and staff houses powered by a solar system that also pumps potable water from a recently sunk borehole.
Before that, villagers used to walk to Mvuma General Hospital that is 30 kilometers away to get services.
Chirumanzu Rural District Council (RDC) chairperson, Thembinkosi Nyoni Miti, said construction of the clinic started two years ago.
“In terms of budget, the devolution fund facility gave us Zig 18 million for the construction of the clinic. Chirumanzu RDC which I lead, contributed Zig 22 652 and US$14 873,” he said.
Officially, the local ZiG is trading at 25 to the US dollar, but exchange rates are unstable.
“This is a resettlement area. A person bitten by a snake and needing to walk to Mvuma would get there when the poison has already spread in the whole body. However, with the building of this clinic, that life-threatening problem has been solved.
“Before this clinic, people were walking for 30 kilometers to Mvuma while others were going beyond that to Lalapansi. We have about 5, 000 people here who were walking these long distances in search of health care.
“Those who were walking for, say 15 kilometers to Mvuma, perhaps they now need to walk for just five kilometers. For some it’s now just a stone’s throw away,” he said.
Fidelis Mudzengi who is Chief Chirumanzu, said the clinic would cover five wards.
“People will simply walk to the clinic than to start by looking for transport fares first before thinking about traveling to a medical facility.
“This clinic will help people access health services timeously, so I thank the president (Emmerson Mnangagwa) for his devolution agenda which has resulted in us getting this clinic,” he said.
Each clinic in Zimbabwe is expected to service 10, 000 people within an 8km radius, according to the standards of the ministry of health and child care.
News Hub gathered that due to the inaccessibility of health care in the area, villagers were resorting to faith and traditional healers.
Generally dry and lacking in natural endowments, Chirumanzu has not been able to attract major investors that would help develop local health services.
It contrasts with neighbouring Shurugwi where investors have set up modern health centres.
Unki, a platinum miner, recently injected $120, 000 towards the construction of Ruchanyu Clinic in the Tongogara area as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.