Story by Gay Matambo
Government’s public-private partnerships (PPP) are bearing fruit with a local humanitarian organisation partnering the Zaka Rural District Council in a project that has turned around the healthcare sector of Matara area in Zaka South constituency.
The partnership between SolidarMed and Zaka Rural District Council in the construction of a mothers’ waiting home and staff house at Chiredzana Clinic has enabled the Matara community to have access to best possible health services.
The project has brought relief to expecting mothers who were forced to travel long distances to access maternal healthcare.
“We used to travel to Mashoko or Musiso for maternal healthcare services. I gave birth to my firstborn at home because I didn’t have money to go there hence we are grateful for this project,” said an expecting mother.
Another added, “As pregnant women, this project has come at the right time. We used to travel long distances to give birth. I once gave birth at that gate because there was no mothers’ waiting home here.”
“We thank the local leadership and their partners for facilitating such developmental projects in our area. As mothers who will give birth in the near future we are truly grateful.”
Speaking at the commissioning of the project this Saturday, Zaka Rural District Council Chairperson, Mrs Fungai Maregedze noted that the implementation of health care infrastructure projects in Zaka district will improve health access in communities and improve livelihoods in line with plans by government to make Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy.
“We hope that in the near future, we will be able to construct more health care facilities such that villagers don’t travel long distances for healthcare services. That is what our President is always saying that by 2030, rural households should be able to access healthcare services closer to them,” she said.
The importance of such partnerships in improving access to health care was also brought to the fore during the commissioning of the project.
“I would like to extend my heart felt gratitude to SolidarMed, a Private Voluntary Organisation that has been a steadfast and trusted partner in advancing healthcare initiatives in the province. Through their expertise and collaborative spirit, we have successfully constructed three new staff houses, accommodating three worker families as well as a new mothers’ waiting home that can host up to six mothers at a time before and after delivery. Almost similar projects have been done at St Antony’s Musiso and Mashoko Mission,” Masvingo Provincial Director of Coordination Ms Rosemary Chingwe said.
The project which received close to US$60 000 in funding aligns with government’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind in terms of development.
