by Tawanda Musariri

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Toshiyuki Iwado has donated a US$90 000 digital x-ray machine to Chidamoyo Hospital in Mashonaland West. Chidamoyo is 400km from Harare on the northern border of Gokwe district separated by Sanyati River.

Deputy Minister of Health Dr John Mangwiro accepted the generous donation on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

The event, which was led by the Zimbabwe Association of Christian Hospitals (ZACH) was attended by the local MP Honorable Cecil Kashiri (Zanu PF), Chief Dandawa, Hurungwe Rural District Council Chairperson Councillor Badwell Chasara, the owners of the hospital-Church of Christ Officials, the local community and patients.

The machine offers the latest x-ray technologies which do not require film development as it shows images digitally on a computer screen within sixteen seconds, said Mr Elijah Molife, General Sales Manager for Flatbridge Medical.

Molife said another unique aspect of the machine is that it does not emit radiation waves like the analogue x-ray machines which are largely in use.

In his address Ambassador Iwado said, "I'm delighted that Japan could provide assistance to Chidamoyo Christian Hospital. I have learned that Chidamoyo is regarded with affection by people from Kariba to Binga and further afield. It has afforded high quality healthcare to a large patient population in the past 50 years. And even during these difficult economic times when people do not have any money, the hospital is not turning people away but still cares for them, allowing them to pay through different means such as a bucket of grain or a basket of vegetables for treatment .”

No other institution in Mashonaland west has the machine or anything near it. The machine can send images online for analysis by specialist surgeons as the patient waits.

In his acceptance speech, Deputy Minister, Dr Mangwiro said “Chidamoyo Hospital sees 200 patients daily and 400 maternity patients per month, with three doctors only instead of a minimum six.”

Despite the ongoing industrial action and perpetual threat to job action, Chidamoyo Hospital never downs tools.

The hospital currently manages with only one trained x-ray machine operator, an important worker whose absence will cripple the department.

Dr Mangwiro promised to provide an extra operator, more doctors, nurses and the training of the Doctor to work with the newfound machine beginning next week.

"As Government, we are going to support Chidamoyo Hospital. We aim to be an upper middle income economy, to this end, Government will fully utilise such timely donations and give all the necessary support to the health sector to realise this dream,” said Dr Mangwiro.

Dr Mangwiro encouraged fellow MP Kashiri to work towards the provision of non-monetary incentives to the hospital staff to encourage them to stay and become part of the health ecosystem of the community.

Over and above the bounty donation, Fujifilm will maintain and service the machine for free for the next three years.

Expressing his gratitude to the Japanese people's generosity, Dr Mangwiro promised that the machine will be put to good use to benefit the patients.