Story by Tafara Chikumira
A multipurpose mobile clinic, a minibus and three ambulances have been commissioned at Gweru Provincial Hospital in a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and expanding access to medical services in remote communities across Midlands Province.
The mobile clinic, which meets international standards, is expected to enhance outreach healthcare services, particularly in areas where access to hospitals and clinics remains limited.
Midlands Provincial Medical Director Dr Mary Machekaza said the facility provides an integrated approach to healthcare delivery by bringing essential diagnostic services directly to communities.
“What we have here is an integrated approach towards meeting healthcare needs for people, particularly in remote areas. The mobile clinic has a laboratory, which makes it easy for us to carry out tests from sugar levels to HIV and TB. We also have an ultrasound scan which will help us determine any complications. Since the truck will be moving along with an ambulance, once we detect any complications, the ambulance will then ferry the patient to the nearest healthcare centre,” she said.
Members of the community have welcomed the development, saying the mobile clinic will bring essential health services closer to their homes.
“We are very excited with what our visionary leader, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, continues to do for us. You will realise that most of us do not have the means to travel to the nearest healthcare centres. We can now see that Vision 2030 of leaving no one and no place behind is indeed achievable.”
Residents from mining communities also expressed optimism about the programme.
“Some of us are in mining communities, and it is very difficult for such communities to travel and seek healthcare services. However, with this programme, we can safely say things are moving in the right direction. We can now have the truck helping us get medication in our areas as the ambulances ferry the sick to the hospitals,” community members said.
Government has also commended the progress being made by Gweru Provincial Hospital, noting that the development supports the country’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 2(NDS2).
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Owen Ncube said the initiative aligns with the social development pillar of the national strategy.
“Today’s event resonates with NDS 2 pillar on Social Development, Gender and Social Protection, which entrenches health and well-being, maternal health care, access to basic services, implementation of gender responsive policies, strengthening health infrastructure and equipment. Accordingly, all eight districts now have service vehicles and ambulances, whilst theatre and x-ray equipment have been provided in record time by the Second Republic.”
The mobile clinic programme is also intended to support Zimbabwe’s commitment to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all by 2030.
