Story by Elroi Ngara
CHITUNGWIZA Central Hospital is making significant strides in expanding access to advanced surgical procedures, now offering total joint replacement surgery at a fraction of the cost patients previously paid abroad, particularly in India.
The hospital, which also boasts a well-stocked pharmacy and laparoscopic surgery services, is rapidly emerging as a centre of excellence in specialised healthcare.
In support of the Second Republic’s commitment to enhancing healthcare provision across the country, Chitungwiza Central Hospital is carrying out an impressive volume of surgeries monthly, including over 50 orthopaedic, 40 to 50 general surgery, and 20 urology procedures.
The facility also handles 12 to 15 ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) cases, an area recently introduced, and around 20 ophthalmology cases.
“On average, we handle over 50 orthopaedic cases, 40-50 general surgery cases, and over 20 urology cases per month. We are also seeing 12-15 ENT cases monthly, although we are just starting with this department, and around 20 ophthalmology cases. Notably, we have resumed total joint replacement surgeries in orthopaedics, doing about 1-2 cases a month, which is a welcome development after a period of not offering this service,” the Sister In-charge of Theatre, Annah Kasambira said.
Previously, Zimbabweans requiring total joint replacements often had to travel to India or South Africa, incurring significant financial strain.
“This is particularly beneficial for Zimbabweans who previously had to travel abroad to countries like India or South Africa for this procedure. What’s more interesting is that we are providing this service at a significantly lower cost of around US$2 000, compared to US$4 000 to US$5 000 in India, resulting in substantial savings for both patients and the country. On average, we perform 1-2 of these operations per month,” the Director of Operations, Edson Mudenda said.
The government is prioritising universal health coverage through equipping hospitals and clinics with modern equipment, medicines and construction of new facilities to reduce the distance travelled by patients to seeks health care services.
