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Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

FIRST Mutual Health Services has expressed its willingness to partner Government in a bid to provide accessible, quality and affordable health in country in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1)

This comes after the group opened its clinic in Bulawayo on Friday, bringing all the clinics owned by the group to seven.

 First Mutual Life and Health Cluster chief executive officer Mr Rueben Java told guests that several developments in the health sector are in the pipeline with some targeting partnerships with Government hospitals.

Mr Java said the organisations two prong strategy in the health sector include the enrolment of primary health facilities across the country and building referral hospitals in line with NDS 1 of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

The strategy is meant to complement Government efforts to provide accessible, quality and affordable health services across the country.

“Next year we will be approaching Government hospitals across the country to sponsor either a theatre or paediatric ward or any other assistance in ensuring that the services that are offered are of high quality and everyone can afford them. 

“There is a call for public-private partnerships (PPP) and it is our 2024 strategy to align with the Government,” said Mr Java.

To move with speed in championing the national development agenda, the Government has also engaged the private sector on some of the projects under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) initiative.

Mr Java added that plans are in the pipeline to champion development in the primary health sector.

“What we have done in the last two years is to roll out seven primary health clinics around the country and two separate pharmacies.

“ The clinics are built under an integrated model which entail patients accessing all services under one roof,” he said.

Efforts being spearheaded by the Second Republic in improving and ensuring primary healthcare access to all and sundry are expected to significantly aid to the country’s development agenda.

Mr Java urged all heads of different companies to align their strategies with NDS 1 where he said the Government is willing to fund all interventions that are meant to drive the national outcome as stated in the  national.

“Under the health dimensions in NDS 1, what we were able to understand as a national outcome is to improve quality of health for the people of Zimbabwe and key drivers for that is a sound foundation based on primary health and hospital care,” he said. — @SikhulekelaniM1.