Story by Patience Nyagato
IN a significant stride towards universal health coverage, the Government has established a new surgical theatre at Mhondoro Rural Hospital in Mubaira, bringing vital healthcare services closer to communities that previously faced long, costly journeys to access surgery.
For years, expectant mothers and other patients in Mhondoro were referred to Chegutu District or Sally Mugabe Central Hospitals due to the absence of a local theatre.
The newly constructed facility, equipped with an anaesthetic machine, theatre bed, and newborn resuscitation table now stands as a lifeline for rural families and a symbol of the Second Republic’s commitment to equitable healthcare delivery.
“This is a good initiative. It used to be hard because it became expensive for us to be referred to Chegutu or Harare, and sometimes it became complicated when it was an emergency,” a resident said.
“We thank the government for remembering us as Mhondoro Mubaira mothers. Since I am expecting, I know that if there is need for a caesarean section, I am going to be delivered here,” another added.
Resident doctor, Dr Faith Kuveya, said the theatre will significantly reduce delays in handling emergency and planned surgical procedures.
“The functional piece here will assist us in cutting delays we used to face when transferring patients to distant hospitals. We will start with elective caesarean sections, those we can plan for in advance and later handle emergency procedures as our team grows.”
Sister-in-Charge Joyce Chirume added that the hospital’s ongoing upgrade, made possible through support from Zimplats, includes the construction of two theatres, a laundry house, and a kitchen, with maternity services already operational.
“So far, Mhondoro Rural Hospital is being upgraded. We have two theatres, a laundry house, and a kitchen. For now, we are admitting maternity cases only, with about 60 to 65 deliveries per month. We also have a waiting mothers’ shelter for mothers from 12 clinics under the Mhondoro cluster.”
With the theatre now ready for use, Mhondoro Rural Hospital is poised to become a model for rural health infrastructure development, bringing life-saving maternal services closer to the people and reinforcing the government’s vision of accessible healthcare for all.
