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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
THE Japanese Embassy on Tuesday  commissioned paediatric unit equipment worth thousands of dollars at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, 10 years after handing over the children’s hospital to the government.The initiative is part of the more than $900 million project championed by the embassy targeting rehabilitation of Mpilo and Harare Central Hospitals.

Mpilo’s Paediatric Unit was constructed by the Japanese government through its Embassy. The commissioned equipment included incubators, geysers, and other such gadgets.

Handing over the equipment, Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yonezo Fukuda said his government sourced the equipment following an appeal by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

“After extensive consultations and in response to the request from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) decided to rehabilitate medical equipment and facilities at this hospital,” he said.

Ambassador Fukuda said his country realised that Zimbabwe was facing economic challenges which were making it difficult to maintain equipment at its different hospitals.

“Due to economic challenges faced by the country it became difficult for the hospital to procure spare parts for the maintenance of equipment. Some of the equipment is now obsolete after more than 10 years of operation,” said Ambassador Fukuda who stunned guests as he spoke in IsiNdebele.

A JICA resident representative Yuko Minuzo said they were committed to improving health service delivery in the country.

“The health sector is one of the focused areas in JICA’s mandate. In addition to rehabilitation projects at Mpilo and Harare Central Hospitals we have two programmes related to the health sector at the moment,” he said.

Representing the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa, the Director of Nursing Services, Cynthia Chasokela, said the government was making strides in improving the health services in the country to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

“We used to have a single intake for 15 specialist paediatric nurses but we are going to double the number to 30 and those enrolled should be holders of a general nursing certificate only without any post graduate diplomas,” she said.

Chasokela challenged the hospital staff to take good care of the equipment.

Mpilo acting chief executive officer Dr Wedu Ndebele said the hospital was still under staffed and urged government to look into the issue.