The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
TRAINED health care practitioners are crucial in achieving an upper-middle income economy by 2030, the Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Speaking on Dr Chiwenga’s behalf while officially opening the Queen of Peace Murambinda Mission District Hospital’s School of Nursing Demonstration Room, ZANU PF’s secretary for finance, Cde Patrick Chinamasa said infrastructural development in the health sector is crucial as it enhances the Health and Wellness Pillar in National Development Strategy (NDS1).
“According to NDS1, the key health issues are to improve the quality of life, increase life expectancy and have the right to access basic health care services as provided in the country’s Constitution.
“Trained health care practitioners are crucial in achieving NDS1. Therefore, improving the learning environment is an essential facet as it gives citizens access to basic health care services provided by trained staff.
“By extension, improving human resource programmes and creating an enabling environment for health services delivery will result in an increased healthy population with quality life and prolonged life expectancy,” he said.
VP Chiwenga said in the end, a healthy population will contribute positively to economic development.
He also applauded the Roman Catholic Church’s contribution in improving health delivery across the country.
“It is encouraging to note that the Church is complimenting Government efforts in the health sector. The hospital has continued to set high standards of nursing education. Special mention goes to Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, the Friends of Murambinda UK, our beloved Buhera community and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, who contributed immensely towards the success of this project,” he said.
The institution also received a brand new ambulance and vital oxygen equipment from Government.
Handing over the equipment to the responsible authority and Bishop of the diocese of Mutare, Bishop Paul Horan, VP Chiwenga said the gesture dovetails with Vision 2030.
“Health care should be accessible and affordable to all Zimbabweans, As Government ensures that no one and no place is left behind.
“May I implore stakeholders in the health services sector, including the private sector, civil society and development partners, to work together towards the achievement of Vision 2030. As stakeholders, you should feel challenged to help the country’s health system,” he said.
VP Chiwenga also said the construction of houses for doctors and nurses who are resident at the institution is on the cards.
In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Bishop Horan said both the Church and Government are concerned with availing health services to the people of Zimbabwe.
“We are very happy with our partnership with Government because it is the concern for both of us in taking care of the sick and providing health services to them. The institution’s mandate is to bring the healing presence of Jesus Christ to our world through provision of affordable health care services and promotion of well-being for the people of Buhera District and beyond. We will continue doing that,” he said.
Murambinda District hospital has one hundred and twenty in-patient beds and admits up to six thousand patients per year.
It gets at least twenty thousand out-patient attendances per year.
The hospital has a catchment area stretching for two hundred kilometres, with a population of approximately 300 000.
While it is supported by thirty-seven rural health facilities in the district, the hospital also serves patients from neighbouring districts, including Gutu, Chikomba, Wedza, Makoni and Mutare.
