Story by Aifheli Mudau
GOVERNMENT has intensified efforts to improve access to essential healthcare services in rural communities, with the construction of a pharmaceutical store underway at Shashe Rural Health Centre in Beitbridge District.
The development forms part of the Second Republic’s broader programme to decentralise health services and reduce the distance patients must travel to access medication, particularly for chronic and life-threatening conditions.
For residents of Shashe, the new pharmacy represents a practical shift in service delivery, addressing long-standing challenges associated with drug shortages and referrals to distant hospitals.
“As a parent from this area, I am happy about the construction of the pharmaceutical store because we will no longer need to travel to towns to buy medication,” one community member said.
Another resident, who relies on regular treatment for high blood pressure, described the project as life-changing.
“I am a BP patient, and most of the time when I visit this health centre, I am referred to hospitals. Sometimes I have no money, and I end up missing my medication. The construction of this pharmaceutical store means that medication will now be readily available.”
Others echoed similar sentiments, noting that once the facility is completed, routine medicines will be accessible within the community.
“We will no longer need to travel to Beitbridge once this building is complete because all the medication we require will be stored here,” a resident added.
Local leadership has also welcomed the intervention, citing its potential to save lives, particularly during disease outbreaks.
“Some people were losing their lives, especially in malaria cases, because there were no medicines stored locally. Villagers in this area will benefit greatly. We appreciate the Second Republic’s efforts to increase access to healthcare,” Shashe Ward 8 Councillor, Cde Violet Dube said.
In addition to the new pharmacy, Government is finalising repairs to the clinic’s infrastructure after parts of the facility were damaged by recent storms.
The expansion and modernisation of Shashe Rural Health Centre aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s development philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind, as Zimbabwe works towards achieving Vision 2030 and strengthening equitable access to public health services.
