The Sunday News
Nokukhanya Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS in Dula, Umzingwane District in Matabeleland South have completed building a clinic in their area under the Food for Work programme, a situation that will improve access to health care to the local community.
The Food for Work programme is a scheme where villagers work on certain projects within their communities while they are paid in food.
The programme is supported by the Government working with humanitarian organisations. Some of the villagers said they used to walk more than 10 kilometres to Mtshabezi Hospital to access treatment. Dula 4 village head Mr Simeon Sibanda said villagers in his area and other surrounding areas have been failing to access proper health care resulting in some pregnant mothers delivering at home.
“The clinic will be able to accommodate more people and even pregnant women who used to deliver at home will be able to deliver at the clinic with the assistance of nurses and there will be specific waiting rooms to cater for them,” said Mr Sibanda.
The village head said the clinic would also help pupils at Dula Secondary School to access treatment in cases of emergency.
He said the clinic would be officially opened soon when the Government has seconded staff to work at the institution.
Dula Secondary School Development Committee secretary Mrs Sipho Dube said the clinic was a welcome development in the community. She said even pupils could go for regular check-ups at the clinic, something which was rare in the past.
– @nonozar3
