Govt delivers 47 new health centres

GOVERNMENT has funded construction of 47 new health centres countrywide since 2018, while over 1 000 existing facilities have been connected to solar power in a development expected to guarantee improved access to health services.

Close to 100 health facilities also underwent extensive rehabilitation, with 93 others currently being spruced up.

Health and Child Care Ministry spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri said development of modern health infrastructure was at the centre of Government’s agenda.

“During the period 2018 to date, the New Dispensation made significant achievements in the development of health infrastructure ranging from the construction of new health facilities to rehabilitation of existing infrastructure,” he said.

“In view of the above, a total of 47 health facilities were constructed and completed, while 94 projects were under rehabilitation to completion.

“A total of 1 074 health facilities were solarised, and 201 health facilities benefitted from the borehole water project.

“We still have ongoing projects as follows: We have 93 projects under rehabilitation at different health facilities in the country.”

He said one of the flagship projects − construction of the Lupane Provincial Hospital in Matabeleland North Province − was underway.

Matabeleland North currently has no provincial referral hospital and patients rely on Hwange Colliery Hospital and the Catholic Church-run St Luke’s Hospital.

Last year, Government allocated $47 million for construction works at the provincial hospital, which is scheduled to be completed this year.

“The construction of Lupane Provincial Hospital is in progress as follows:

the central stores is 59,4 percent complete, pharmacy (59,9 percent), casualty (52,9 percent), outpatient department (34,3 percent, administration block (35,5 percent), junior staff houses (51,3 percent), maternity block (19,3 percent), surgical ward (4,6 percent), paediatric ward (5,3 percent), dental and eye clinic (5,4 percent), kitchen (8,3 percent), substation (2,7 percent), antenatal (0,4 percent), post-natal (0,4 percent).