Story by Tamuka Charakupa
Universal health coverage is in motion after Mashonaland West Province received 14 health vehicles from government through the Global Fund grant.
Presiding over the vehicle handover ceremony at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital this Friday, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Marian Chombo said the development dovetails with government’s inclusive development policy and its target of universal health coverage.
“Provision of these utility vehicles is a clear testament to the Second Republic’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our citizenry. As we commission these vehicles today, effective and efficient rollout of our programmes like the immunisation and response to emergencies will be conducted swiftly,” she said.
Mashonaland West Provincial Medical Director Dr Celestino Dhege is upbeat the additional fleet addresses the current vehicle deficit, especially in the hard to reach communities.
“We are going to distribute these vehicles across all the seven districts. This vehicles are for HIV, TB and Malaria related programmes but regardless they can fill in when there is need. We have since adopted an integrated approach when conducting community outreach programmes such that we do more even with limited resources,” he noted.
Dr Dhege also gave an update on the provincial cholera situation after an outbreak reported in Kariba two weeks ago.
“Our numbers keep on going down such that some days we do not even record a case. I am happy to report that we have achieved a 102 percent cholera vaccination success in Kariba. We also extended the campaign to fishing camps given their high risk prevalence chances,” he added.
The development is a major boost in the implementation of the National Community Health Strategy which is meant to provide 100 percent access to health facilities countrywide.
