Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
THE decentralisation of specialised health services under the Second Republic is beginning to ease pressure on central hospitals while bringing advanced medical care closer to communities, with Gweru Provincial Hospital emerging as a key referral centre in Midlands Province.
Specialised healthcare is becoming more accessible across Zimbabwe’s public hospitals as the Government’s decentralisation programme continues to strengthen medical services and bring advanced treatment closer to communities.
At Gweru Provincial Hospital, patients are now receiving specialist treatment without the need to travel to major referral centres in Harare and Bulawayo.
“I started feeling pain in my stomach and began vomiting green fluid. That is when I was rushed to this hospital. I had two operations done, and I was in a coma. Doctors also found water in my chest, and I had another procedure done. All these operations and procedures were done by specialists without me being transferred to either Harare or Bulawayo, and for that I am grateful,” said one patient.
Another patient expressed appreciation for the treatment received at the facility.
“I was transferred from Shurugwi to Gweru Hospital where I was diagnosed with a hernia. I had an operation and they inserted a colostomy bag. I later returned for another operation to remove the bag and reconnect the intestines so that they function normally without the colostomy bag. I am really grateful to the specialist doctors because I am now on the road to recovery,” the patient said.
Gweru Provincial Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr Fabian Mashingaidze, said the hospital is expanding its range of specialists as part of efforts to ensure communities access quality healthcare closer to home.
“Gweru Provincial Hospital is a tertiary specialist hospital in the Midlands and serves as the referral centre for the entire province, which covers eight district hospitals. Our thrust as a hospital is to expand specialist services so that our people can access them closer to home.
“In the past few months, we have increased our range of specialists to include neurosurgical services. We now have a neurosurgeon who has successfully carried out complex procedures. You may have seen a case of a gentleman who had a six-inch nail hammered into his head, which was successfully removed by our neurosurgeon.
“We are very proud of bringing more specialist services so that our communities can access them locally. Other specialist services we offer include general surgery, orthopaedic surgery, anaesthesia and ophthalmology, among others.
“We are also training specialists locally under accreditation from regional bodies. Some of our orthopaedic surgeons, general surgeons and anaesthetists qualified for these roles in December last year, which we are very proud of because it means we are increasing capacity for specialist services,” he said.
The expansion of advanced medical care beyond major cities is strengthening the national health system, improving patient outcomes and supporting the country’s vision of accessible and quality healthcare for all.
