Thandeka Moyo-Ndlovu, Senior Health Reporter
THE Binga community now have a functional mortuary after Government refurbished the facility at the district hospital.
For 12 years Binga has been without a functional mortuary forcing families to fast-track burials of their loved ones.
The Second Republic which has said it is leaving no one and no place behind, availed $70 million to fix the district hospital’s mortuary.
Binga district has over the years remained largely marginalised in terms of infrastructure development with several projects either stalled or progressing at a snail’s pace but the situation has dramatically changed as a result of the Second Republic’s new approach.
Government is therefore implementing a number of development projects in the district which include road rehabilitation, the construction of a vocational training centre, a new border post and the establishment of a nursing school at Binga District Hospital.
Some of the completed projects include the rehabilitation of an Aerodrome that has the capacity to accommodate up to four planes daily and is expected to drive tourism in the province and Binga Polytechnic.
Bereaved families before the refurbishment of the distrrict mortuary were forced to rush burials and those with resources took the bodies to Hwange town, several kilometres away.
In an interview recently, Matabeleland North Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said President Mnangagwa donated two ambulances to the district hospital.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Richard Moyo officially opens the mortuary
“We are delighted because finally our cries were heard and we now have a mortuary for the community.
“The President has also donated two ambulances to the hospital which will go a long way in improving health service delivery in the district,” said Minister Moyo.
He said plans were underway to ensure the solar back up system is operational at the hospital as Binga normally experiences high temperatures hence the need for backup system for the mortuary in case of power outages.
When he visited Matabeleland North recently, the Vice President who is also the Health and Child Care Minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga said the refurbishment of the hospital will ensure tourists have access to quality healthcare services.
“We are happy with the work that has been done at Binga Hospital, especially the refurbishment of the mortuary which had been down for some time. Binga is also a tourist attraction and as we improve access to healthcare, our tourists will also benefit,” said Dr Chiwenga.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Richard Moyo officially opens the mortuary
An ecstatic religious leader Pastor Maxwell Nsiasia said the establishment of the mortuary will help families find closure even after the death of loved ones.
He said in the past bodies would decompose before families could plan decent burials and as such denied communities time to properly mourn their loved ones.
“We would like to thank God for our leaders who respect human dignity. The refurbishment had been a desire for many of us,” said Pastor Nsiasia. @thamamoe.