Zimpapers Logo

Fairness Moyana Chronicle Correspondent
THE Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Paul Chimedza, has bemoaned the long periods it is taking to complete construction of public health institutions with some remaining incomplete nearly two decades later after work started.
Dr Chimedza said this on the sidelines of a familiarisation tour of government-run clinics and hospitals which included Lukosi Rural, Victoria Falls and Hwange District hospitals on Tuesday. The deputy minister made special reference to Hwange District hospital which is yet to be completed 18 years after construction started.

“This is an administrative tour meant to familiarise us with the state of government run hospitals as we found it helpful to get to the ground so as to appreciate the successes and challenges faced by these institutions. I’m however saddened by Hwange District Hospital which is supposed to be functional by now, but 18 years later it’s still not complete,” said Dr Chimedza.

He said the hospital was beginning to crumble as part of the building was substandard.  He added that it was his ministry’s desire to see the hospital functional; hence he took to task personnel from the Public Works Department over the matter.

Dr Chimedza urged custodians of health institutions to safeguard assets which he said were deteriorating at an alarming rate at government hospitals.

“It is important that we as leaders work to protect our assets. If we don’t work and we just leave them to deteriorate, it is us who will have problems in future. Here in Lukosi I’m glad the mothers’ shelter has been renovated now what is left is to refurbish both the mortuary and incinerator,” he added.

Lukosi Rural Hospital caters for about 10,000 villagers from surrounding villages and has been acting as a referral centre for some cases.
Health personnel at Lukosi told Dr Chimedza that the institution had several feeder clinics which would overwhelm them as they were short-staffed and had limited beds for admission of serious cases.

Dr Chimedza however said he was impressed with the state of Victoria Falls Hospital where facilities such as wards and water system had been upgraded to meet high standards considering that the centre was situated in a tourist destination attracting international visitors.