by Shongedzai Mugwagwa
In a bid to improve the health sector, Government has allocated USD$5 million towards the immediate and emergence refurbishment of Sally Mugabe hospital (first beneficiary) under the unveiled 90-day Rapid, the Harare Post reports.
Addressing the media during a signing ceremony between Governments of Zimbabwe and Japan which saw the later extending a $300 million yen (USD$2.7 million) grant to Sally Mugabe Paediatric centre. Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said that the aid came at a time Government has launched an emergency facelift of the country’s major hospitals.
The rapid plan initiative will be implemented in phases across the country.
“I am pleased to advise that Government has committed itself to a 90-day Rapid plan which will look into the urgent and immediate requirements of Harare Hospital (Sally Mugabe) through an allocation amounting to US$5 million.
“The intervention by the Government of Japan is in line with our national priorities as enunciated in the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). The project also assists in achieving Social Development Goal (SDG) number 3, which focuses on good health care and wellbeing,” said Prof Ncube.
Prof Ncube further revealed that the urgent program will deliver refurbished hospitals to the public in 90 days and Government is targeting to finish at least five major hospitals in major cities.
The multi-million grant availed by the Government of Japan will see the provision of critical state of the art equipment for the Sally Mugabe Paediatric centre. These will include portable X-ray systems, operation and examination equipment, intensive care unit monitors, ultra sound scope and artificial resuscitators.
On behalf of the Government of Japan, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Toshyuki Iwado said that the timely intervention of his Government will go a long way in assisting the most vulnerable groups of the society—“the children and mothers.”
Prof Ncube concurred with Mr Iwado as he lauded Japan for its continued support to Zimbabwe. “This support, which aims to revamp the hospital, will assist in reducing the infant mortality rate, as well as providing health care to mothers and their children,” he said.
An excited Sally Mugabe Hospital chief executive, Dr Tinashe Dhobbie said the assistance would cement the institution’s reputation as the biggest paediatric centre in the country and capable of dealing with complex paediatric cases.
Sally Mugabe was constructed in 1958 and currently provides beds for 242 patients but has a design capacity of 350 beds.
