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Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected] 

BULAWAYO’s public health sector is poised for significant transformation through medical personnel exchange programmes and healthcare investments as a result of increasing cooperation between Zimbabwe and Belarus. 

Yesterday, a Belarusian delegation visited major referral hospitals in the city to explore avenues for collaboration in healthcare. This visit follows a recent trip to Belarus by a high-level Zimbabwean delegation led by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube. 

During the visit, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering key sectors, including health, education, agriculture, and trade. 

Led by Mr Dzmitry Serhamasau, a representative of the Belarus Ministry of Health, the delegation toured Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Ekusileni Medical Centre and Mzilikazi Clinic. 

Mr Serhamasau, who heads the health and agriculture sectors for the UTANO Group FZC—a distributor of pharmaceuticals and medical products — was tasked with assessing areas for healthcare investment. 

At Mpilo Central Hospital, the delegation visited the renal dialysis unit, where Sister Pathisiwe Nkomo, who is in charge of the unit, explained the challenges they face, particularly a shortage of dialysis machines. 

She said of the 12 machines, only four are operational, forcing the hospital to implement a strict roster to accommodate the many patients on dialysis. Sr Nkomo noted that procuring additional machines would significantly reduce patient waiting times.

The delegation’s next stop was Richard Morris Hospital at UBH, the primary referral eye centre for the southern region. 

Sr Sithulisiwe Haruzivishe told the delegation that the hospital treats around 300 patients per month, with many coming from Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo, Midlands, and Masvingo provinces. 

She highlighted the strain on the hospital’s facilities, including the need to use the Children’s Eye Clinic for adults due to an overwhelming number of patients.

“We handle an average of 10 patients a day from patients who walk in for consultations for the first time to those coming in for operations. The hospital has two consultation rooms and we have had to turn the Children’s Eye Clinic for use by adults in response to the overwhelming numbers,” said Sr Haruzivishe.

Mzilikazi Clinic, run by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), serves around 40 000 residents from surrounding suburbs like Nguboyenja and Barbourfields. 

Following the tours, Mr Serhamasau commended Zimbabwe’s efforts to maintain its healthcare infrastructure and highlighted the need for equipment to improve service delivery. 

“The Government of Zimbabwe has done well in keeping the infrastructure in good shape, and is trying to maintain a good health system with dedicated and professional doctors, specialists and nurses. However, what the hospitals need is a shipment of equipment to deliver a better healthcare system in Bulawayo,” he said.

This visit marks the second phase of cooperation between Zimbabwe and Belarus. Mr Serhamasau emphasised that 85 percent of Belarus’s medical products are government-produced, ensuring high quality at competitive prices.

 Minister Ncube said the visit aimed to give the Belarusian delegation a deeper understanding of the equipment, medicines, and supplies needed in Bulawayo’s healthcare system. 

She also revealed  plans for medical personnel exchange programmes, where doctors from Bulawayo will train in Belarus and bring their knowledge back to the country.

“It’s important for the Belarus delegation to tour our clinics and hospitals so that they have a better understanding of the equipment, medicines and sundries that our hospitals need. We also agreed on medical personnel exchange programmes where we send local doctors to Belarus to learn from that country’s health care system and then come back home and teach other doctors,” said Minister Ncube.

Bulawayo Economic Development Agency (BEDA) chairperson, Mr Kwanele Hlabangana, said the city stands to benefit greatly from the growing bilateral relationship. 

He said the collaboration is part of a broader effort to strengthen ties between Zimbabwe and Belarus.

Bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Belarus have grown from strength to strength, with high-level exchange visits undertaken over the years. 

In 2019, President Mnangagwa visited Belarus, resulting in the establishment of a Joint Permanent Commission. This framework has since fostered cooperation in agriculture, mining, infrastructure development, science and innovation, and healthcare. Last year, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Zimbabwe, cementing these partnerships and launching the Second Phase of the Farm Mechanisation Programme.

The two countries also signed eight bilateral agreements in the areas of healthcare, education, agriculture and economic cooperation at a ceremony that was presided over by Presidents Mnangagwa and Lukashenko at the State House in Harare.

Immediately after the signing of the agreements, the two leaders proceeded to launch the Second Phase of the Farm Mechanisation Programme at the Ministry of Agriculture Institute, where Zimbabwe took delivery of an additional 1 300 tractors, 14 combine harvesters and disc harrows.