Story by Tafara Chikumira
Government has commissioned a telemedicine virtual hospital in Chirumanzu in one of the major milestones by the Second Republic to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare services for rural communities as the country gravitates towards Vision 2030.
The telemedicine virtual hospital is one of the 22 such facilities that have been established in the country through a collaboration between a local telecommunications company, Netone and Zimstart Village.
The initiative, which is being spearheaded by the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, is in line with the National Development Strategy 1 as it revolutionises the healthcare delivery system in Zimbabwe by targeting remote areas.
The facility allows patients to do consultations with doctors online, thereby cutting the aspect of distance while ensuring that communities get the best healthcare services in their localities.
“I want to thank our President for always remembering us here. We are now experiencing the same facilities they have in big cities. We are witnessing some massive changes in our area,” a villager said.
Another added, “Our area will never be the same again. We are enjoying the development being spearheaded by our President. This is a good development indeed. Some of us due to old age need constant health checkups. Now this is going to be easy.”
“We are witnessing the fruits of hard work by our trusted leaders. Chirumanzu has been remembered in a big way. We are already witnessing Vision 2030 in motion. This is indeed great,” a villager noted.
The government says it will continue to come up with initiatives meant to turn around the livelihoods of previously marginalised communities.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Barbra Rwodzi said, “This was an idea from the presidium meant to deal with our rural communities to get the quality health care, to deal with cancer and other ailments affecting societies. The President’s vision is quite clear. This is what we are witnessing in communities. I want to thank the First Lady for working with Netone in coming up with such an excellent initiative. A healthy nation is productive.”
The telemedicine initiative strongly supports the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 agenda of becoming an upper-middle-income society by leveraging on digital solutions to address healthcare challenges.
