Moffat Mungazi
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
MURAMBINDA District Hospital is set to undergo a major refurbishment aimed at enhancing its healthcare services and alleviate pressure on patients who previously had to travel long distances to referral hospitals for medical operations.
The refurbishment will focus on renovating the theatre and recovery room, thanks to a public-private partnership between Government and Buhera Development Forum.
The collaborative effort will undoubtedly improve the hospitalโs infrastructure and provide better healthcare outcomes for the community.
It is worth noting that Murambinda District Hospital, which serves as the designated district hospital for Buhera, has a long history of providing essential healthcare services to Buhera, Gutu (Masvingo Province) and some parts of Mashonaland East.
With this refurbishment, the hospital will be better equipped to handle the growing demand for quality healthcare in the district.
Addressing delegates at the launch of the refurbishment project in Murambinda last Thursday, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza commended the Buhera community for their efforts in contributing to the renovation of the hospital.
โI commend the Buhera community through the Buhera Development Forum for stepping in to collaborate with Government in the development of the health sector. This donation is a result of the collaborative efforts of Government and the community, and a clear demonstration of the power of working together. Your actions prove that the community stands united in support of the renovation of the hospitalโs theatre and recovery room,โ said Minister Mugadza.
He said the move will, not only improve healthcare infrastructure, but also make lasting impact on the lives of the people in Buhera.
He emphasized the power of collaboration between Government and the community, calling it a clear demonstration of the success that can be achieved when both work hand-in-hand.
โThe refurbishment project comes as part of Governmentโs ongoing efforts to improve the healthcare system, in line with the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which stresses the importance of leaving no one and no place behind in the countryโs development agenda. The blueprint sets out a roadmap for the achievement of Zimbabweโs development goals, with a focus on improving infrastructure, including healthcare, to ensure that every citizen has access to quality services.
โThe refurbishment of the hospitalโs theatre is a direct response to this policy, as it seeks to ensure that the people of Buhera have access to essential healthcare services, particularly in terms of surgery and other critical medical treatments,โ he said.
Minister Mugadza further stressed Governmentโs emphasis on citizen participation in the development process, encouraging individuals, communities, and the private sector to actively contribute to national progress.
He also praised the success of public-private partnerships in various sectors, particularly in healthcare.
He pointed out that private sector players have been playing a crucial role in complimenting Governmentโs efforts to enhance services across different sectors.
The Buhera Development Forum has already invested US$10 000 into the refurbishment project, with the goal of creating a state-of-the-art facility that will, not only improve healthcare provision, but also ensure better working conditions for medical personnel at the hospital.
Buhera Development Forum chairperson, Mr John Makumbe said the refurbishment will also significantly reduce the need for community members to travel long distances to receive medical operations, as they will now have access to modern surgical facilities within their own district.
He also expressed pride in the communityโs contributions to the project.
โThe contributions are a shining example of the mantra โa country is built by its own people (nyika inovakwa nevene vayo)โ. Through our peopleโs generosity, we are taking the development of our local healthcare system into our own hands. It is critical that Murambinda District Hospital has sound healthcare infrastructure, especially a world-class theatre. This modern theatre facility will improve care and address the growing healthcare needs for our community,โ he said.
Buhera District Medical Officer, Dr Shelton Kwiri expressed gratitude for the project, noting that the upgraded facilities will greatly improve patient care and provide much-needed boost to the hospitalโs operational efficiency.
