The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
THE visit by the First Lady, Cde Auxillia Mnangagwa, to Bulawayo last week left people with smiles on their faces after she rescued United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital by donating a consignment of foodstuffs for patients.
The consignment included tonnes of mealie-meal, peanut butter, flour, cooking oil and rice which will aid the hospitals to provide a variety of meals for patients. Of note was the diet section of UBH’s kitchen which has been facing several challenges in preparing food for special needs patients.
The kitchen supervisors told the First Lady that they did not have containers to carry food from the kitchens to the wards and they also did not have adequate storage facilities for cold foods. Two cold rooms at UBH are not working.
Another challenge raised during the visit was that the institutions did not have staff to carry food from the kitchen to the wards and nurses were being forced to carry out the duty. During the tour of the kitchen, Cde Mnangagwa noted that some of the equipment was old and outdated and needed replacement.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Bulawayo Province Cde Angeline Masuku praised the First Lady for her support to children’s homes in the city and also to the hospitals.
Cde Mnangagwa also brought along a mobile cancer screening clinic that will be used in outreach programmes throughout the country. Cde Masuku said the First Lady was a true mother of the nation who has put the health and welfare of Zimbabweans first.
“She took her time to see that something needs to be done about cancer and she came to assist with the mobile clinic and we are proud as a city for this initiative. She is a hands on person who is leading by example in the fight against cancer,” she said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa said the screening of women for cancers needs to get attention now that the First Lady has taken it upon herself to champion it. He also commended the First Lady for being motherly.
“I noticed a very motherly streak because of the places she chose to first visit, the place where food is prepared and we took her there, that is what we really want. Also the nutritional needs of patients are very important, I can see that she has brought them food stuffs here and it is most welcome,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
The First Lady she said her visit to Bulawayo was inspired by her desire to assist those in need.
“My visits here are driven by desire to positively transform the lives of vulnerable people, this is why I am back and I will continue to come back to Bulawayo. I realised that is it not enough when one is already burdened by sickness then getting poor services especially services that have nothing to do with money. It costs nothing to be kind, respectful and compassionate. The food I brought is for the patients,” she said.
Cde Mnangagwa also brought vegetable seedlings to both Mpilo and UBH hospitals where she assisted in planting them in gardens.
