Residents of Ngwana in Bulilima District are set to benefit from improved access to healthcare following the commissioning of a new clinic in Ward 21, bringing essential medical services closer to the rural community.
The facility is expected to provide maternal and child healthcare, immunisation, health education and early diagnosis, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances to access basic medical services.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini, who commissioned the clinic on Friday, said the development was an important step towards strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system and ensuring equitable access to health services.
He said the government remained committed to improving healthcare delivery in rural and underserved communities in line with its Vision 2030 aspirations.
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“A mother should not have to travel excessive distances to access maternity services, nor should a child miss immunisation because healthcare is too far away,” Kwidini said.
He said the Ministry of Health and Child Care was prioritising Universal Health Coverage to ensure that everyone could access essential health services without facing financial hardship.
However, Kwidini cautioned that the availability of a clinic building alone did not guarantee effective healthcare delivery, stressing the need for adequate staffing, medicines, equipment and reliable services.
“A clinic building alone cannot treat a patient! It requires qualified health workers, essential medicines, appropriate equipment and reliable services,” he said.
He said the Ministry would work within its mandate and available resources to support the provision of healthcare services, including staffing, medicines and medical supplies.
The local authority and other stakeholders were also expected to support infrastructure maintenance and the provision of essential services such as water and electricity to ensure the clinic remained operational.
The clinic was made possible through a community-led initiative involving residents of Ward 21, Bulilima Rural District Council, Bana Bengwana Development Trust and other partners.
Kwidini commended the community for mobilising resources and contributing labour towards the construction of the facility, saying the project demonstrated the importance of local participation and ownership in development.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the International Organization for Migration, the Minister of Industry and Commerce through the donation of construction materials, Bulilima Rural District Council, Bana Bengwana Development Trust and the Zimbabwe National Army, which provided skilled artisans.
Kwidini said partnerships between communities, government and development organisations were essential in improving access to basic services and advancing national development priorities.
He added that the clinic’s commissioning contributed towards Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.
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