The Sunday News
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
SILOBELA District Hospital in the Midlands Province received a major boost after it got an ambulance, courtesy of the Second Republic as it walks the talk on improving the quality of healthcare services in line with President Mnangagwa’s aspirations of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
The institution, which is the referral hospital in Silobela and surrounding areas, has been operating without an ambulance, something that was impacting negatively on the provision of quality health service.
The development is expected to ensure swift responses to emergency cases, especially maternity complications and accidents that require immediate attention.
Prior to the donation, the hospital had converted Chief Malisa’s vehicle into an ambulance as it was the one used to ferry patients from clinics to the hospital or from the hospital to Kwekwe General Hospital.
The ambulance was donated by the Second Republic after the area’s National Assembly member Cde Jonah Nyevera put forward a request through the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube.
Cde Nyevera said the ambulance would go a long way in improving healthcare and foster development in the district.
“The ambulance was a major necessity for the institution. Expecting mothers were the ones who were largely affected by the lack of an ambulance as many were forced to give birth under difficult circumstances after failing to get emergency services to the hospital,” he said.
He said the donation was complemented by the rehabilitation of the Kwekwe-Nkayi Road which had become untrafficable.
“Silobela District Hospital refers patients to Kwekwe General Hospital and given the state of the road, some expecting mothers ended up giving birth along the way. This is why we are now grading the road so that the ambulance and other vehicles can travel with ease to Kwekwe,” said Cde Nyevera.
The legislator poured in US$5 000 for the rehabilitation of the road which is underway.
Minister Ncube said the gesture by President Mnangagwa was testimony that the Second Republic gives priority to the country’s healthcare system.
“It is with great pleasure that I commission the Silobela District Hospital ICU ambulance following my last visit here in November 2023, whereupon I received a report of the need for an ambulance through your MP.
“I subsequently submitted the report to our listening President who responded positively and urgently to the request occasioning the provision of the requested ambulance for Silobela Hospital,” said Minister Ncube.
He said the development marks progress in the improvement of the healthcare system in the country by the Second Republic.
“The availability of a new ambulance for Silobela Hospital will go a long way in improving the health system in and outside the district as it is a referral for 13 clinics. It also enables swift response to emergency cases and is a major milestone towards the provision of quality healthcare. This goes to show how the Second Republic is dedicated towards provision of improved healthcare for all Zimbabweans,” said Minister Ncube.
He also applauded the rehabilitation of the road.
“I wish to applaud sterling efforts by the Hon Member of Parliament Cde Nyevera in maintaining the Kwekwe-Nkayi Road which is also on our priority list for resurfacing under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme. The road is key in ensuring the safety of our communities as it is the one used to transport patients to Kwekwe General Hospital in case of any referrals,” he said.
The ambulance is part of a medical equipment consignment delivered to Midlands Province through the Ministry of Health and Child Care last month as the Second Republic seeks to strengthen the referral system and close inequality gaps in the healthcare system.
