Story by Tamuka Charakupa
GOVERNMENT is conducting free medical outreach programmes in the Mola community of Kariba as part of efforts towards bridging the health gap and ensuring universal access to health.
Across the glassy expanse of Lake Kariba, where the land meets isolation, lies a place where many are not familiar with an area called Mola.
Reaching this community which is roughly 95 kilometres from Kariba town demands a two-hour boat ride and a 30-minute road drive.
Mola’s co-existence with wildlife including lions and elephants restricts free community movements rendering access to basic services a nightmare.
As a result of this isolation, every cough carries weight, every fever could be fatal.
Basic ailments like infections, hypertension, and childhood illnesses often go unchecked sometimes, for years.
“We are a community that co-exist with dangerous wild animals such as elephants and lions. This makes it difficult for us to travel to our nearby clinics let alone at night. We want to thank our government through Padenga for cascading these crucial services to vulnerable communities like ours,” Traditional Leader, Chief Mola said.
“I am a village health worker. Part of my work involve moving around my community rendering primary care services. However, due to the state of our roads and prevalence of wild animals, movement to health facilities is limited. Besides that, transport fares to visit Siyakobvu, Karoi or Kariba are expensive and as a result people or give birth in their homes. So we appreciate this gesture by government to send a visiting doctor,” beneficiary, Mrs Loveness Siyahundu said.
“I was given my tb tablets for free and even got the chance to be examined by the doctor. We do have existing health facilities but have limited access to expert services,” Beneficiary, Mr Kudzaishe Kanda said.
Government, through partnering the private sector, is set to roll out a free medical outreach programme on a monthly basis in the area.
“As Padenga we took a strategic position to assist this community given its geographical position. We are complementing government efforts by way of bringing a visiting doctor to this community once every two weeks so that those with limited access to health facilities have an opportunity for access free services,” General Manager, Ume Crocodile Farm, Mr Mike Ncube said.
“As government we are continuing with HPV screening having observed that many women were suffering in ignorance. We have also noticed many being diagnosed with hypertensions, diabetes, and epilepsy among other diseases. Going forward we want this programme to continue,” Nurse-In-Charge, Mola Rural Health Centre, Mr Brighton Chalibamba said.
In Mola, the needs are many and the journey to healing is long and hard. But sometimes, all it takes is a boat, a heartbeat, and the will to reach those left behind.
