Mbada Diamonds gives to Mutare Provincial Hospital

MBADA Diamonds recently pledged $20 000 towards the rehabilitation of Mutare Provincial Hospital.

The medical institution, which was built in 1935 mainly to serve a small elite population in the colonial era, now serves a population of over 1,7 million, but its infrastructural development has lagged behind to match its post-independence functions.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony of general nurses at a local hall, guest of honour and Mbada Diamonds chief executive officer Mrs Patience Khumalo said the company deemed it necessary to assist the hospital by providing money which the hospital board can decide to use for most urgent needs.

“Mutare Provincial Hospital is located in Mbada Diamonds’ home province and, as they say, charity begins at home. The company was moved by the hospital’s needs as it is an extensive catchment area of Manicaland province with a highly dense population.

“We have been working towards improving conditions at the largest referral hospital in Manicaland. We handed over motion equipment (wheelchairs and patient trolleys) as well as sanitary equipment worth almost $80 000.

“In response to the typhoid scourge that affected Harare last year into the new year, the corporate availed water chlorinators worth over $130 000 to the Harare City Council,” said Mrs Khumalo.

She added that the diamond mining company would continue to play its role in improving the health sector. Let us all take up the fight and forever strive to continuously improve our Zimbabwe,” she said.

Among other challenges the hospital has been facing are erratic water supplies, critical shortage of staff accommodation and working space, shortage of service vehicles, shortage of medicines and other consumable supplies, shortage of funds to face lift the dental building, no purpose built school of nursing and proper paediatric and maternity units.

Addressing their plight to Minister David Parirenyatwa in a briefing later during the day, the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Simbarashe Samakande, said despite a number of problems, there were plans for the hospital to improve service delivery.

“We have been working on, among other things, procuring essential supplies for maternity, FCH and paediatric ward using HTF. Connection of hospital water reticulation system to the water tank on Hospital Hill has started as well as lobbying for the establishment of a school of midwifery to reduce the current shortage of midwives,” he said.

He pleaded for support from the Ministry (of Health and Child Care), especially in areas of staff welfare, through provision of service vehicles, a new staff bus and accommodation to enable then to lure and retain critical staff. Manica Post