The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has identified Weya Rural Health Centre in Makoni North to be upgraded to a district hospital in a move meant to ease the pressure on Rusape General Hospital.
The move also seeks to reduce the distance being travelled by villagers to access health services.
Despite its size and population, Makoni District only has one hospital serving as a referral to 60 clinics, a situation that has compromised the quality of the services being offered.
The district has five rural health centres that can be upgraded into hospitals.
These include Weya, Rugoyi, St Michael’s, St Therese and Dewedzo.
At one time, St Therese had a resident medical doctor.
Makoni District Medical Officer, Dr Tendai Nyafesu, said patients in Makoni North are travelling long distances to access health facilities at Rusape General Hospital, adding that the upgrading of Weya Clinic will go a long way in alleviating their plight.
“We were asked to identify one rural health centre that can be upgraded into a district hospital and out of the five possibilities we have we identified Weya at Chiendambuya Growth Point. We are waiting for the response from our parent ministry, but we are very confident that it will be positive. Makoni North is a hard to reach area as it is the furthest to Rusape General Hospital.
“The upgrading of Weya Clinic into a district hospital will reduce the burden on Rusape General Hospital.
“A district hospital must have resident medical doctors, X-Rays, laboratories and ambulances among other essentials services that are not provided by clinics,” said Dr Nyafesu.
Makoni Rural District Council last year indicated their intention to upgrade Headlands Clinic into a hospital to cater for the district’s population.
Makoni North legislator, Cde James Munetsi, said some patients are travelling over 200km to Rusape General Hospital.
“The upgrading of Weya and St Michael’s clinics in Tanda are long overdue. We have been lobbying for that for years. Patients are travelling about 200km to get treatment at Rusape General Hospital.
“People end up hiring private vehicles to ferry their patients as there are no ambulances in the area. They usually pay for the services with their livestock.
“Weya District Hospital will serve areas such as Chiendambuya, Mayo, Tsikada, Chinhenga, Chikore and many other remote areas,” said Cde Munetsi.
