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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

Gokwe District Hospital has appealed for more health workers after some nurses and doctors left the institution for various reasons.

Hospital authorities said this as they received a donation from the Minister of State Security Owen Ncube.

Minister Ncube, who is also Gokwe Kana MP, handed over an assortment of groceries ranging from cooking oil, sugar, soaps and 100blankets to the hospital.

The Minister also donated groceries to St Agnes Children’s Home.

Gokwe District Medical Officer Dr Noah Chiridza said the donation came at a time when the institution was facing a number of challenges.

“We are very grateful to the minister for the gesture as the donation will go a long way in eradicating some challenges that we are facing. We are in the process of extending our wards and the blankets will certainly be helpful in that regard, ” said Dr Chiridza.

Among the challenges highlighted, Dr Chiridza said the institution was in need of more nurses and doctors after a number of them left either for greener pastures or for other reasons.

He said the hospital needs more service vehicles, laboratory equipment and oxygen.

Gokwe hospital currently has five doctors. Minister Ncube said he was complimenting government efforts to mitigate against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I take great pride and honour to be with you today for the official handover of 100 blankets, cooking oil, sugar, soap and salt to Gokwe Hospital which I personally sourced from my own savings. I am quite confident that this donation will go a long way in complimenting government efforts towards eradicating covid-19 pandemic which has greatly affected our communities,” he said.

He said the donation will also go a long way in improving health care delivery system which has been undermined by the pandemic.

Minister Ncube also applauded health care workers whom he said were critical amid the Covid-19 pandemic. “I would like to thank our health personnel for their dedication to duty. As a government under the able leadership of President Emerson Mnangagwa, we will thrive to see that they are well taken care of,” said Minister Ncube.

Handing over groceries to St Agnes Children’s home on behalf of TelOne, Minister Ncube said he had taken a leaf from First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa.

“As a nation, we are drawing inspiration from First Lady Amai Mnangagwa through her Angel of Hope Foundation which indeed has given hope to many people in difficult circumstances through her charity works. We will continue to emulate her great works which have transformed society in the country’s 10 provinces where she also taking care of orphans. We derive comfort in that no one has ever become poor through giving,” he said.

St Agnes Children’s Home Manager Sister Phoebe Chakadayi said the donation came at the right time. “We have a capacity to take care of 60 children but due to limited resources we only have 23. We have been facing challenges to take care of the children lately but we are grateful to Hon Minister Ncube for the donation,” she said.

The home was established by Reverend Lazarus Muyambi in 1992 and has nine care givers.