By Savious Madanhire and Buhle Mhlaulo
In a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage, the Honorable Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, commissioned four ambulances for the Midlands Province.
Minister Ncube recalled last year’s commissioning of five ambulances, which improved patient referral capacity in the province.
Hence, this commissioning demonstrates His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa’s commitment to modernizing health service delivery as the nation journeys towards attaining a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society earlier than 2030.
Minister Ncube outlined the government’s healthcare initiatives, which are a response by His Excellency, Cde Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, following Minister Ncube’s extensive tour of hospitals and clinics across the Province to monitor health service delivery.
“Following these tours, our listening President swiftly responded to our requests through the following lifesaving interventions: A critical X-ray machine at Zvishavane District Hospital, Health equipment, including BP Machines, Service Vehicles to District Hospitals, Establishment of Gokwe North Nursing School, Staffing critical posts in hospitals and clinics in the Province, including Doctors, nurses, and other critical Health professionals, Schedules of Doctors’ visits to clinics like Chikwingwizha, Provision of two health staff buses, one each for Gweru and Kwekwe District Hospitals, Essential drugs to hospitals and clinics across the Province”
Furthermore, Minister Ncube acknowledged the challenges posed by illegal sanctions but emphasized the government’s determination to provide quality healthcare.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, despite the negative impact of illegal sanctions imposed by the USA and its allies on our health service delivery, which has hindered external funding, our strategic visionary leader, His Excellency, the President, Cde Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa, is revamping the health sector through mobilization of local resources towards acquisition of ambulances, CT Scans, MRI Machines, X-Ray Machines, BP machines, medication, and provision of Devolution-funded health infrastructure.”
Minister Ncube went on to praise First Lady Dr. A. Mnangagwa’s healthcare initiatives, particularly for marginalized communities.
“Allow me to further appreciate our nation’s Health Ambassador, Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. A. Mnangagwa, for her sterling efforts in championing quality health service delivery to marginalized communities.
The First Lady’s health programs, such as free cancer screening, eye diagnosis and treatment, and food and nutrition security, among others, complement Government efforts to align its National Vision with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to achieve universal health coverage and equitable access to quality and improved health care services for all.”
However, Minister Ncube commended Zimbabwe’s swift response to the M-Pox outbreak, urging continued vigilance.
“Allow me to once again applaud the highly responsive Second Republic, which has already issued the M-Pox alert and established an enhanced community-based surveillance system to detect and contain the disease. Consequently, our Nation has recorded only two cases in Harare and Mberengwa, which are being contained. I, therefore, call upon the Midlands Community to stay alert and assist Health Service providers to curb this scourge.”
The four state-of-the-art ambulances are equipped for emergency medical procedures hence making them mobile theatres, wherein various medical procedures can be performed while the patient is in transit. These machines will be distributed to Gweru, Shurugwi, Chirumhanzu and Mataga Mini Hospital in Mberengwa.
Additionally, this commissioning of four new ambulances marks a significant milestone for Midlands Province, as each of its eight districts now has a dedicated ambulance.