TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Finance and Economic Development Minister, Mthuli Ncube (pictured), has revealed that the government plans to construct more than 30 hospitals and clinics across the country, a move which will accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
He spoke in Cowdray Park in Bulawayo over the weekend.
Ncube is aspiring to be a Member of Parliament for Cowdray Park.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since announced that elections will be held on August 23.
“We are going to build over 30 hospitals in this country. That is the objective that we have in our health sector,” Ncube said.
He also revealed that the government has rehabilitated the two main hospitals in Bulawayo-the Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals.
“We have rehabilitated the Mpilo Central Hospital doctors’ cottage that got burnt sometime and the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) as well,” Ncube said.
He said the government was about to complete the construction of a hospital in Zvishavane.
“Places like Zvishavane, we are about to complete constructing a similar hospital like the one here in Cowdray Park.
“So far, we have built one clinic, a poly clinic which has world class facilities within it. We are going to build another clinic, servicing a certain area of Cowdray Park. We are trying to source some ambulances so that we can ferry those that are not feeling well to the clinic. So, I hope in the next few weeks I will be able to present those to the clinic for their use,” Ncube said.
He added: “We will move to Chimanimani. From there we will open a district hospital in Umzingwane then we will proceed to Wedza.”
Meanwhile, Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga has said the government has increased the number of specialist doctors working at public hospitals
“As at January 2023, the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s establishment was 51 661. Of these posts, 44 789 were occupied, and 6 518 were vacant,” Chiwenga said, while delivering a Ministerial statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday last week.
“In January 2023, the vacancy rate was 17% among nurses, 21% among doctors, 25% in laboratory as well as radiography services and 27% in pharmacy service. About 90% of Zimbabweans were accessing health services at public hospitals while 10% were being treated at private health facilities.”
