Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE Government has moved in to spread its social safety nets to address food security and nutrition gaps in vulnerable groups following the distribution of foodstuffs to Kwekwe prison and Kwekwe hospital.
It was a shot in the arm for inmates at Kwekwe prison and patients at Kwekwe General hospital as they received an assortment of foodstuffs and blankets to help them improve on their nutritional diet.
The donations came at the right time since the two institutions have been facing some budgetary constraints due to overwhelming numbers of inmates.
“When you are attending to patients, the biggest wish is to see an improvement of that patient healthwise. That is what gives us satisfaction as health practitioners. That can only happen when the patients have a balanced diet,” said Kwekwe Hospital Acting Superintendent, Dr Bruce Mhondiwa.
Kwekwe Prison Officer in Charge, Superintendent Elliot Maburutse also said, “Our prisoners need a balanced diet to survive inside the prison walls. We are currently experiencing a cold spell and these blankets are indeed essential in solving the problem so we want to thank the Minister for the gesture.”
The Government says it will continue to come up with programmes meant to ensure that people in disadvantage communities get food sustenance through support mechanisms.
“The blankets will ensure warm nights for our inmates in line with the mantra of leaving no space and no one behind. The Zimbabwe prisons and Correctional services has become a pioneer in reforms and modernisation of our Prisons and Correctional Services,” said Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Owen Ncube.
The consignments handed over to the two institutions are part of the proceeds from this year’s independence ball where US$35 000 was raised for the vulnerable in the Midlands province.
