Online Reporter
Violet Chenyika
CONSTRUCTION of four additional multiple-bed health facilities across the country through funding from a US$200 million facility extended to the Government by NMS Infrastructure Limited has commenced.
Funding is set to be provided to develop the health centres in Paradza (Chivi), Nyamukate (Zaka), Lady Stanley (Bulilima) and Manhize (Chivhu), with the work expected to be complete by May next year.
The development follows completion of work on four 20-bed mini-hospitals in Stoneridge (Harare), Mataga (Mberengwa), Runyararo (Chimanimani) and Cowdray Park (Bulawayo) under the same arrangement.
NMS Infrastructure is a United Kingdom-based infrastructure development firm. It specialises in fully funded turnkey infrastructure projects, primarily in Africa.
Its focus is on developing and delivering innovative solutions to complex social infrastructure challenges, particularly in the healthcare sector.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Aspect Maunganidze said: “To date, the ministry has successfully completed construction on four sites. The next four sites planned for development are Manhize, Paradza, Nyamukate and Lady Stanley.
“Currently, three of these sites have been fenced and boreholes have been drilled. Mobilisation is underway and excavation works are set to commence . . . at the Manhize Rural Centre. We anticipate that construction will be completed by May 2025.”
The health facilities are part of an ambitious plan to construct multiple 20-bed health centres and five 60-bed district hospitals across the country under the NMS facility.
All the facilities are designed to be self-sustaining, featuring full solar power systems, staff accommodation units and water reservoirs.
Each centre will have delivery, prenatal, postnatal and procedure rooms, along with a paediatric ward, three consultation rooms and an imaging store equipped with a mobile X-ray machine.
Advanced medical equipment such as anaesthesia machines, ultrasound devices and vital signs monitors will also be installed.
Dr Maunganidze said completion of the project was contingent on availability of funding.
“Funding permitting, the project is estimated to be completed by December 2027,” he said.
“The contractor has the capability to manage multiple sites simultaneously, which can be facilitated by making advance payments.
“This approach will help ensure that construction progresses efficiently across all locations. A total of 33 districts will benefit from the new health facilities established as part of this project. Funding permitting, we plan to establish eight additional health facilities and centres next year — eight by 22-bed rural health centres and two district hospitals.
“Furthermore, the initiative has already delivered 93 fully operational pharmacies across the country this year.”
