Staff Reporter
In a significant boost to healthcare services in Matabeleland North Province, Hwange Medical Company (HMC) has announced plans to establish a regional Oncology Centre at its hospital and acquire additional ambulances.
This initiative aims to expand access to specialised medical care, addressing the critical needs of surrounding communities.
A subsidiary of Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL), HMC recently invested in a specialised intensive care ambulance worth US$145 000, enhancing emergency response capabilities for patients in the area.
Additionally, the hospital has introduced a dialysis unit, a vital resource that now spares kidney patients from the costly and time-consuming travel to Bulawayo for essential treatments.
HMC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nairos Deredzai underscored the significance of the Oncology Centre, which responds to a mounting health threat posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes.
"Let’s all be reminded of the emerging public health threat of rising numbers of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, and cancers. In this regard, it is not lost on Hwange Colliery that this calls for enhanced efforts for healthcare preparedness, infrastructural improvements, and establishment of need-specific units,” Dr. Deredzai said.
Dr. Deredzai added, “The organisation has embarked on an exciting journey to realise the establishment of a regional Oncology Centre of Excellence intended to screen, detect, treat, or palliate patients suffering from cancers.”
Dr. Deredzai highlighted the importance of training and developing healthcare workers as an integral part of bolstering Zimbabwe's health workforce.
"The ongoing general nurse training by HCCL is a powerful demonstration of commitment by the organisation to complement Government efforts of aligning health worker training programmes with the needs of the sector and increase training outputs from 3 334 in 2022 to at least 7 000 by 2030, as highlighted in the Zimbabwe Health Workforce Strategy,” he stated.
Echoing these sentiments, HCCL Holdings Administrator Munashe Shava reinforced the company’s commitment to healthcare, particularly in light of the rise in lifestyle and non-communicable diseases.
“As HCCL, we recently opened a dialysis unit to provide treatment for kidney disease patients who no longer have to travel to Bulawayo for the life-saving service,” Shava shared.
Plans are also underway to add another ambulance, bringing the hospital’s fleet to three in the near term.
According to Shava, this expansion aligns with HCCL’s focus on providing comprehensive, accessible, and high-quality medical services to the community.
Shava also encouraged partnerships with the School of Nursing, welcoming stakeholders to collaborate in training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
“As part of roping in stakeholder collaboration to support the Government’s health delivery endeavours, we fully welcome interested establishments keen on partnering with the School of Nursing in various ways to come forward and make an impact in the noble profession, which is the backbone of healthcare delivery,” Shava said.
Through these strategic initiatives, Hwange Medical Company is positioning itself as a key player in advancing healthcare accessibility and quality in Matabeleland North, fostering a brighter future for the community it serves.
