Gutu East legislator calls for more health centres

ZANU-PF Gutu East legislator Cde Berita Chikwama has called for the construction of more health centres in the populous district where villagers in some areas are walking for long distances to access medical services.

Cde Chikwama said villagers across Gutu’s five constituencies bank on two main referral health centres —Reformed Church-run Gutu Mission Hospital and the state-owned Gutu Rural Hospital — located in the sprawling Mupandawana Town.

The parliamentarian said the two district hospitals were now overwhelmed by patients.

“We urge Government to intervene in establishing more health centres as villagers are traveling 10km to access medical attention.

“We expect them to travel shorter distances like that of schools,” Cde Chikwama said in an interview.

Cde Chikwama said because of the shortage of clinics and hospitals, villagers pooled their resources together to build a clinic in Ward 36 in the district.

“We have built a health centre in Ward 36 as a community initiative and its almost done, we are left with building the health officer’s house as per the villagers’ proposal,” she said.

She urged Government to upgrade some of the health centres.

“Most of our health centres in the district do not have electricity and need to be upgraded.

“They also lack running water, and have run out of medicines. I call upon Government to help on that,” said Cde Chikwama.

Chief Chitsa, Mr Nyika Chibvongodze, echoed Cde Chikwama’s concerns, adding there was also need to repair battered roads leading to most health centres in the district.

“The roads to hospitals and clinics are in a bad state and patients take long to get medical attention.

“Some use scorch-carts, wheelbarrows and private cars, and the situation becomes more dire particularly during this time when the country is grappling with an outbreak of cholera,’’ said Chief Chitsa.

Gutu is the most populous district in the province, with infrastructure such as schools and health centres in need of constant upgrade to satiate surging demand.