US$6 million NatPharm project 96% complete

 

Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent

THE construction of the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) warehouse at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital is now 96 percent complete.

The US$6 million project, which started in February 2022, occupies 2 600 square-metres.

Upon completion, the facility will go a long away in improving access to health services.

In an interview with The Manica Post, the project’s resident Engineer Oliver Muzviziyi said they are only left with completing the drainage system and external pavement.

“We are excited with the progress made so far, and we can safely say that the project is nearing completion. We are happy to have this facility as it will go a long way in having more pharmaceutical drugs stored in Mutare for distribution to local hospitals.

“It is a great development for Manicaland Province. We are, however, appealing to Government and other stakeholders to rehabilitate the road that leads to the facility as it in a bad state.
“However, the completion of an external pavement is now 60 percent complete, while the storm water drain is being put in place,” said Engineer Muzviziyi.

The new warehouse will store medicine four times more than the old warehouse which is only about 842 square metres.

The new warehouse will house around 6 000 pallets of medicine.

Speaking during a tour of the state-of-the-art warehouse earlier this year, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Nokhuthula Matsikenyere said the significant progress made on the project proves that infrastructure development is a top priority for the Second Republic.

She said the warehouse will improve access to health services as envisaged under National Development Strategy (NDS1).

Access to drugs will improve for the Manicaland community as well as those in nearby provinces.

“Medicine that will be coming into the country via the Beira Corridor will no longer go to Harare where they are currently being stored for distribution.

“Provinces close to us will also benefit as they will be collecting the drugs from Mutare and not Harare,” she said.

Minister Matsikenyere also said Government should be applauded for championing the devolution agenda.

“We should thank the Second Republic for such a wonderful job. For 42 years, we waited for the distribution of medicine from the Harare warehouse, even though we are closer to the Port of Beira.

“However, in less than five years, the devolution agenda has allowed for the drugs to be easily accessible to our hospitals through this warehouse,” she said.