The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints working with the government on Friday handed over a maternity facility at Mbembesi clinic in Insuza to the community as part of efforts to improve health care services.
The facility which cost US$230 000 will facilitate pre and post-natal health care.
Building work on the site commenced in July 2016 with support from Rural Based Fund (RBF). The funds managed to cater for the building from foundation level to window level on one wing.
The church then took over the construction of the maternity shelter in 2022 which comprises a delivery room and post-natal area complete with furnishings, showers, toilets, a sluice room, a hot water geyser and solar power.
Medical equipment which includes a prenatal scanner and various other equipment was also donated.
The church also constructed two new nurse housing units which are solar-powered and have solar geysers.
The church also replaced walls and ceilings and refurbished the interior and exterior of existing buildings and they repaired toilets and plumbing.
Speaking during the handover of the Clinic, the Church Representative, president Mzingaye Ndlovu said the solar system they put in the clinic is also feeding the ZESA grid which benefits other communities.
“When we got here we inquired what we can do to assist in finishing up the clinic, there was a clinic block which we assisted in finishing up and we started other blocks and we built houses for the clinic staff and we also put JoJo tanks, we put a solar system which is not only powering Mbembesi clinic but it’s connected in a way that it feeds to the ZESA grid to assist other communities,” said Ndlovu.
He said the church wants to bring development which goes in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra on development.
Minister of State for Matabeleland North and Provincial Affairs, Richard Moyo appreciated the church for the construction of the maternity shelter.
“This is the fourth project they have done in Umguza, two months ago we commissioned another bigger clinic in Maboleni, they also constructed a classroom block in Mafuyane in ward 19 and we will commission it next week. We agreed with them to finish the work where the government was falling short.”
Moyo said the maternity shelter will lessen the distance travelled by pregnant women to seek maternal services.
“There are beds which can accommodate 15 pregnant women, so it is the duty of men to ensure that women come to the clinic. They also have a nice kitchen which they can even use during the rainy season,” he said.
“Our nurses used to stay far away from the clinic, the newly built houses will make them easily accessible when women are in labour.”
The minister however urged the villagers to be vigilant and protect the infrastructure.
