THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has embarked on construction of two major health centres in Binga and Lupane, Southern Eye has learnt.
BY SILAS NKALA
Matabeleland North provincial medial director Nyasha Masuka told Southern Eye that the initial budget for the projects was $150 000.
In Lupane, Masuka said, the ministry was undertaking the Dongamuzi Rural District Health centre with the current budget allocation pegged at $100 000, while in Binga the ministry was constructing Siabuzuba Rural Health Centre with the current budget allocation of $50 000.
“The project is scheduled to commence as soon as the material is all delivered on site and the community is eagerly waiting to assist in the construction of the clinics as evidence by the fact that they have been mobilising local available materials like the pit sand and homemade quarry stones. Cement is being supplied by Unicem and the arrangement to collect it in batches has been made with the supplier,” the progress report read.
At Siabuzuba Rural Health Centre, construction of three houses was already underway.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Masuka added that there were plans to build a provincial hospital in Matabeleland North.
“St Lukes Mission Hospital doubles up as Lupane District Hospital and the provincial hospital- work is under way to get a new contractor to build Lupane Provincial Hospital,” he said.
Masuka said the situation was dire at Hwange District Hospital where only the outpatient department was working.
“There are structural defects of the theatre department that need to be repaired, there is no allocation for the hospital in the Blue Book,” Masuka said.
Government hospitals and clinics were currently understaffed, poorly equipped, underfunded and face a critical drug shortage, compromising service delivery