Residents threaten demo over Gweru clinic

GWERU Residents on Friday threatened to protest over council’s decision to accommodate patients from the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) at the Mkoba 1 Clinic.

The local authority last month closed the clinic to the general public to house patients from IDH as the health facility was undergoing renovations to be used as a COVID-19 isolation centre.

But speaking at a Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) service delivery meeting in Mkoba, residents said the decision to bring patients with infectious diseases to the clinic was a health risk.

“How can they bring patients with infectious diseases to the populated suburb of Mkoba?”asked Dorcas Moyo.

“We are being exposed to diseases and if council does not look into the matter we are going to demonstrate.”

Another resident James Chireya said children were more exposed as they frequented the clinic to sell some food items.

“Our children are seen milling around the clinic to sell freezits and other food items and this is quite risk,” he said.

GRRA director Cornelia Selipiwe said council should have made the decision in consultation with residents.

He said the closure of the clinic had also affected people who used to access life-saving drugs at the health centre.

But mayor Josiah Makombe said all the necessary measures were taken to ensure safety of residents before moving patients from IDH to the clinic.

“Everything is above board,” he said.