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Mkhululi Ncube, Chronicle Reporter 

FREE Presbyterian Church of Scotland has partnered Government in terms of healthcare service delivery by constructing a clinic at Simbo village in Nkayi District, Matabeleland North with more than 5 000 villagers already benefitting from the facility.

Simbo Rural Health Centre, which is located in Ward 14, was officially opened on Tuesday by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo.

The health facility will also benefit surrounding communities and help reduce the long distance travelled by locals to access health care.

The new clinic brings to four, the number of health centres built by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the district. Others are Mbuma Mission Hospital, Vova Clinic and Lutsha rural health centres. 

Zimbabwe’s restructured health service seeks to leave no one behind by ensuring everyone has access to quality services as set out by President Mnangagwa.

The Second Republic is on a drive to improve access to health in rural areas where communities travel long distances and several clinics have been constructed using devolution funds. 

With social amenities and infrastructure development being some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), Government has dedicated a larger chunk of devolution funds to healthcare provision through the construction of clinics. 

The government has put in place a robust and appropriate public-private-partnerships framework which was lacking in the past.

Other partners have also come on board to help fulfil the Government`s vision of access to quality health care for communities. 

Minister Moyo said the Government is committed to improving healthcare provision and welcomed the partnership by the church.

“Previously, the Simbo Community accessed health care at Mbuma Mission Hospital and therefore the opening of Simbo Health Centre will reduce the burden on that facility. The second Republic under the smart leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa continues to be seized with efforts to improve the healthcare infrastructure so that we have an accessible healthcare system as a country,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the new clinic is in line with the NDS1 and Vision 2030.

 “The facility will provide a comprehensive primary health care package which includes maternal health services and mental health service services among others. For secondary services the facility will refer to Mbuma Mission Hospital or Nkayi District Hospital,” he said.

“When looking at indicators like maternal and prenatal care, HIV retention rates, TB treatment and elimination of Malaria and access to surgery, Nkayi District is performing very well. The same level of high standards of care delivered by motivated and committed staff which is prevailing in other institutions in the district is expected at Simbo Rural Health Centre as well.”

Minister Moyo said with support from various partners, the Ministry of Health and Child Care will be able to deliver its mandate of providing quality health care in the country. 

He said the healthcare services offered by churches and the private sector complement the overstretched services provided by the public sector and ensure affordable quality healthcare services are available in the country.

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland provided funding while the local community chipped in with labour.

The church administrator Mr Tendani Bekithemba Mpofu said the clinic project started in 2019.

“The clinic was built for US$75 000 dollars and it will provide various services which include primary health care, child care and counselling and maternity health services. We built this clinic to try and reduce the burden on Mbuma Mission Hospital,” he said.

“Our mission is to propagate the gospel and besides these health facilities we are also running schools like Mbuma Mission primary School, Zenka Mission Primary school and Lutsha Primary School in Nkayi District.”

The church also runs Thembiso Primary School and Children`s Home in Bulawayo, John Tallach Secondary School in Umguza District and Ingwenya Mission High School in Bubi district. 

Nkayi South MP, Cde Stars Mathe hailed the church for playing a role in the development of her constituency.

 “We are so grateful to the church for this gesture and I hope they will continue to build more clinics in the district so that our people, especially women and the elderly, can access quality health care,” she said.–@themkhust