Staff Reporter
The country’s COVID-19 response and health services yesterday got a shot in arm after India and the Africa Development Bank (AFDB) handed over 20 ambulances to government, while the first batch of 100 ambulances secured by the government will arrive in the country end of June.
The 20 state of the art fully equipped ambulances were handed to the Vice President who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, Retired General, Dr Constantino Chiwenga by Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe Vijay Khanduja and Africa Development Bank country representative Dr Moona Mutopola at a function held at Sally Mugabe Central hospital yesterday.
In handing over the ambulances, Ambassador Khanduja said it was his honour and privilege to hand over the 20 state of the art ambulances as a gift from India to Zimbabwe, which has been promised during a visit by India Vice President in 2018.
“We have mobilized these 20 ambulances which we are donating through the World Health Organization (WHO) as our implementation partner to support Zimbabwe in the fight against COVID-19. On top of the ambulances we are handing over a consignment of an assortment of medical materials for COVID-19 response under the 15 million US$ funding extended to Zimbabwe by AFDB,” said Dr Mutopola.
While receiving the ambulances, Rtd General Chiwenga thanked India, AFDB and WHO for the gesture and implored ZINARA and IPEC to come on board by buying ambulances for servicing highway emergencies.
“I want to implore ZINARA and IPEC to buy ambulances and establish ambulances bases at all toll gates rather than just collecting motorist money. The third party funds should benefit people so IPEC should also avail funds towards ambulances services,” said the Vice President.
The Vice President also outlined the health services trajectory which will see the first batch of 100 ambulances secured by government arriving next month while air ambulances services have been introduced to deal with any nature of medical emergencies.
Zimbabwe is next month expecting a delivery of 500 000 Sinopharm vaccine doses which were ordered from China.
Meanwhile, as at 27 May, 2021, Zimbabwe had 38854 confirmed cases including 36 541 recoveries and 1592 deaths, its cumulative COVID-19 cases stood at 38 706, with 36 517 recoveries and 1587 deaths. The recovery rate stands at 94.3%, with 95.5% of COVID-19 positive cases being attributable to local transmission. The number of active cases stands at 602.
