Boost for Zaka health service delivery

ZAKA Rural District Council has started constructing two clinics as part of its efforts to bring health facilities closer to communities.

The council is constructing Njiva Clinic in Zaka West and Machiva Clinic in Zaka East, which will shorten the distance that thousands of villagers were travelling to get medical attention in the two constituencies.

Council chief executive Mr David Majawura said his council was relieved after securing funding to complete the two clinic projects that started more than 20 years ago.

He said Njiva Clinic was due for commissioning this year, after construction started in 1995 but was stalled by funding constraints.

We have a number of incomplete infrastructural projects in Zaka and as council we have resolved to complete all outstanding projects in the districts to improve the living standards of our people,’’ said Mr Majawura.

“Council is very excited about the impending completion of two new clinics in the district because there were numerous reports of villagers who died before they could access medical care due to a shortage of primary health service centres,’’ he said.

Mr Majawura said council was concerned about the high number of pregnant mothers who lost their lives after giving birth before they could get assistance from trained health professionals because of shortage of clinics in remote parts of Zaka.

Zaka RDC was also constructing staff houses at Njiva and Machiva clinics to attract skilled nurses.

Council was using internal resources to finance the projects. Zaka West Mushaya Ward 27 Councillor Cde Benard Chinaka hailed the move by Zaka RDC to complete the outstanding projects.

He said Njiva clinic would serve over 10 000 people drawn from rural Zaka, the same number of beneficiaries that would benefit from Machiva clinic.

Villagers in Zaka were pinning their hopes on funding from the Constituency Development Fund to complete the long-awaited projects, but this did not materialise.

Zaka District Administrator, Mr Ndeya Nyede, who is also the Civil Protection Unit’s district chair hailed the construction of the two health centres saying it would improve the health delivery system in the district.

This is a dream come true for Njiva and Machiva people and it’s a cause for celebration,” he said.