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Chronicle Reporter
THE Brethren in Christ Church-run Pumula Mission Hospital in Tsholotsho District has embarked on a project to construct an X-Ray department and a theatre aimed at improving health services in the community.In an interview at the institution on Friday the hospital administrator, Mr Albert Moyo, said they were not able to render full medical services because they did not have X-ray services and a theatre.

“It is often a problem when we have patients and cannot give them full services. We end up being forced to refer them to Tsholotsho District Hospital for services we do not offer,” said Mr Moyo.

“We have started constructing an X-ray centre, which is above window level while a theatre centre, also under construction, is at foundation level.

“Our aim is to provide all the services here and cut costs for patients. We are serving a poor community and most people are not able to foot transport costs.”

A doctor at the hospital, Dr Thandiwe Mashunyi, said lack of X-ray services was hampering tuberculosis (TB) screening programmes.
“TB is a problem is this area and without X-ray services it is difficult to screen patients. Patients end up being forced to travel 87km to Tsholotsho District Hospital to get that service,” said Dr Mashunyi.

“We have increased our screening method after establishing a laboratory that was built by MSF. It is now easy to check for TB here.
“However, our aim is to have an X-ray centre and be able to offer the service here.”

Dr Mashunyi said TB cases in Pumula area were high and attributed the development to the influence of many young people from the area who go to South Africa and normally come back home when they are ill.

Pumula Mission Hospital was established in the 1950s and services Tsholotsho District and parts of neighbouring Bulilima District.