Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
The Presidential Medical Outreach Programme descended on Chivi at the weekend, with villagers benefitting from free medical attention, as government pursues universal health coverage.
As the Second Republic moves towards ensuring improved access to healthcare, villagers in Chivi are the latest to benefit from free medical attention for various ailments, health education and free first aid training, an initiative held at Chivi Business Centre.
Beneficiaries appreciated the government for continuously ensuring the rural folk have access to quality healthcare services.
“Today was a rare opportunity for us as we met with health personnel to check on various ailments. For me, they checked, my blood pressure, and sugar tests and I was assisted freely. We say thank you to our President Mnangagwa for bringing such partners to our areas as it ensures healthy citizens,” a villager said.
“I was happy that they trained us on First Aid. Many times we encounter accidents which require emergency services and now it will be easier for us to deal with such situations. Again I am happy that after the training I also received a certificate which might be useful in future,” another said.
The programme saw trainees receiving certificates on first aid training and complements government efforts in ensuring citizens have access to timely and appropriate medical care during emergencies.
Discovery Ambulance Services Chief Executive Officer, Mr Dave Munowenyu, said, “This is an opportunity that the President has offered to us to impart knowledge to the citizenry so that they are capable of taking care of medical emergencies. We have covered a number of areas and our goal is to ensure all citizens have access to timely and appropriate medical care during emergencies. We had a huge turnout here in Chivi with many of the people who wanted medical attention being the elderly and women.”
The Presidential Medical Outreach Programme is meant to spread to all provinces across the country with Bulawayo, Harare and Manicaland already having benefited.
