by Patience Rashai
In a bid to improve the country’s healthcare infrastructure, Government disbursed ZWL$62 million for renovations and upgrading of the country’s major hospitals, during the 2019 fiscal year.
According to the 2019 Annual Budget and Economic Review, funds for healthcare infrastructure were availed across all four levels of care, with the bulk of the money being utilised at the quaternary level.
In Matebeleland, “resources were utilised at Mpilo Central Hospital, toward the renovation and equipping of the Radiotherapy Centre, theatres and recovery wards.
“ZWL$2 million was also allocated to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital were a 2.5 mega litres reservoir was completed together with renovations of a nurses’ home and call rooms. Furthermore, three villas, 2 boilers and laundry facilities were commissioned at Ingutsheni Hospital,” reads the report.
In Harare, following a fire outbreak at Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital, the financial support enabled the institution to rehabilitate and equip the two affected theatres as well as the neo-natal section of the hospital, through procurement of incubators and UPS (uninterruptible power supply) machines.
“Refurbishment works on surgical and general wards at Gwanda, Mutare and Masvingo Provincial hospitals were also completed, whilst Phase I of the construction of the Lupane Provincial Hospital in Matabeleland North resumed in August 2019,” said the Ministry of Health and Childcare.
Incinerators, mortuaries, kitchens, laundry rooms among other ancillary facilities at Nyanga, Mvurwi, Chivhu, Siakobvu and Mvuma District hospitals were also upgraded during the year and are already serving their respective catchments, whilst 2 staff houses at Mahusekwa were completed under Phase II, bringing the total number of housing units to 23.
The US$200million NMS Health Facility (NMS- a UK group of companies, which has been delivering high impact social infrastructure projects within the healthcare sector in Sub-Saharan Africa) which Government entered into a partnership with an international health infrastructure development company is in the process of constructing 10 new district hospitals countrywide as the country continues on its robust plan to improve the country’s healthcare services.
