AN unusual euphoria engulfed the Gokwe-Nembudziya community community over the weekend as Vice President Kembo Mohadi officially opened the Auxillia Mnangagwa Hospital at Chirape Business Centre.
The road, which passes through Chakari, Patchway, Arda, Sanyati Musadzi, Jompan, had been known to be worst in the country for many years before it was rehabilitated.
The power line, which had been destroyed during the previous rainy seasons, is also under reconstruction while mobile network providers were also on site, mapping how to make the area more accessible.
But it was the presence of Discovery Ambulance Services' Disaster Management vehicle that gave the Gokwe-Nembudziya community the hope that better days beckon.
The vehicle that can carry five patients at once, left an impression after dispensing medication to over 2 000 villagers who sought treatment for various ailments.
Discovery Ambulance Services founder and chief executive David Munowenyu said he was excited to be part of the programme.
"Gokwe Nembudziya is one of the most remote areas in our country. We have come here because we believe in President Emmerson Mnangagwa's vision that we must leave no place and no one behind.
“What has charmed us as Discovery Ambulance Services is that the villagers have money to spend on their health because they are selling maize, cotton, sesame and many other business interests.
“But they are saying very few people want to invest in health business opportunities in the area probably because of the bad road network, however, that is being fixed. So we are going to be looking for business prospects around the area.”
Ward 14 village health officer Nomore Mutengwa said the coming of Discovery Ambulance Services would change social behaviour.
“People this side are used to go to Kadoma District Hospital while crammed in pirate taxis. This is dangerous because at times, the sick spread diseases, also people with spinal injuries end up dying on the way to hospital because they are using the wrong mode of transport.
“Now that we have seen that it's possible to have an ambulance service at Nembudziya, we expect to have one soon and we are sure we will be able to save lives,” he said.