Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor

RESIDENCE of Chivaraidze farm and surrounding areas in Goromonzi District have commended Vice President General Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga for building a clinic that is set to cater for nearly nine thousand people in the area.

Named after Vice President Chiwenga‘s late mother, Chivaraidze, the newly built Clinic which is in Goromonzi Ward 7 will offer a full package of primary health care, that is preventative, promotive, curative and rehabilitative care.

The development is in line with the National Health Strategy which seeks to establish new health infrastructure to cover underserved areas, prioritising primary and secondary care as well as addressing gaps in access to health services.

Residents of Chivaraidze farm and surrounding areas commended Vice President Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care and his wife Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga for constructing the clinic which they say will immensely benefit them.

Ups vox

“We used to travel long distances to the nearest clinic, but now we are glad that we now have a clinic at our doorstep.

“I would want to thank Vice President Chiwenga and Amai for this clinic, it was really difficult for us to get medical attention especially if an emergency arises because the nearest clinics are not accessible on foot.

“We now have a clinic which we call our own and we are grateful because with this clinic we know that our children will get their immunisation doses on time every time because the clinic is right at our doorstep,” said locals who spoke to ZBC News.

In her welcome remarks at the opening ceremony, Colonel Miniyothabo Chiwenga said the vision behind the clinic is to ensure everyone has access to healthcare services.

“Our President cde ED Mnangagwa always says brick by brick, stone upon stone we will build Zimbabwe, so this is the little that we did to build Zimbabwe because Nyika inovakwa Nevana vayo so we hope that everyone in their capacity can assist in whatever way to make a difference to our nation,” she said.

Guest of Honour Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Aplonia Munzverengwi said the government will continue to implement comprehensive reforms in the health sector to ensure universal health coverage.

“To date the second republic has made significant progress in the development of health infrastructure by constructing new health facilities and refurbishing existing ones. A case in point is this Chivaraidze clinic whose opening we are celebrating today. The construction of health facilities of this nature is in line with the government‘s development philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind. People-centred projects such as this one must be rolled out,” she said.

Chivaraidze Clinic becomes the 32nd health facility in Goromonzi District and will serve Chivaraidze school and residents of Chivaraidze farm, Seedco, Stondon, Tanar, Soring, Chibvuti and Craigside farms.