Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
RESIDENTS of Nyagande and Chiore villages in Uzumba are now accessing medical services closer to home following the commissioning of Nyagande Clinic, part of government efforts to expand healthcare infrastructure in rural areas.
For years, villagers in the mountainous constituency travelled long distances to reach facilities such as Chikuhwa Clinic, often facing transport challenges that delayed or prevented access to medical care.
Community members say the new clinic will significantly ease those difficulties, particularly for expectant mothers and patients requiring urgent treatment.
“We used to travel long distances to the nearest clinics, which discouraged people from seeking medical care. We are excited about the commissioning of Nyagande Clinic. This is a mountainous area, which made the situation worse. This is the fulfilment of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inclusive development agenda,” one community member said.
Another resident recalled the risks previously faced by women during childbirth.
“In Ward 7, there was a case of a woman who died while giving birth at home, and her child also died. I faced the same challenge but survived. We were experiencing transport challenges when travelling to Chikuhwa Clinic.”
Village head Simbarashe Kapondoro said the facility will improve the community’s ability to respond to medical emergencies.
“We are appreciative of the construction of this facility. This area is prone to cholera. As Nyagande and Chiore villages, we also record many snakebite cases that require urgent attention,” he said.
According to Dr Talent Hwingwiri, the District Medical Officer for Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe District, the clinic is already contributing to improved healthcare delivery.
“UMP has a catchment of 132 000 people. Since the establishment of Nyagande Clinic, we have managed to assist over 1 000 patients. A total of 77 women gave birth at the facility. In Uzumba, we have two clinics nearing completion, while in Maramba there is one clinic, and Pfungwe has three clinics under construction. They are all expected to be commissioned this year,” he said.
Village health worker Maggie Nyajina said the clinic will also reduce logistical challenges faced by community health volunteers.
“As village health workers, we are excited about the construction of this health facility, as we were travelling 14 kilometres to submit health reports. Due to long distances, we recently had a death case, losing a pregnant woman and a baby,” she said.
Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland East Province, said expanding access to healthcare remains a priority under the government’s development agenda.
“This is the 22nd clinic in this district, by 2030 we should have reached 40 clinics in order to improve health delivery,” he said.
The construction of health facilities across rural districts forms part of Zimbabwe’s devolution programme and aligns with National Development Strategy 2, the national economic blueprint aimed at achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030.
