New clinic to open its doors in Beitbridge

By Thupeyo Muleya
A new clinic, St Monica Family Health Centre, will soon open its doors
Penemene area some 60 km north of Beitbridge town, in a move that is set to ease the burden on local villagers who are forced to travel for long distances in search of medical help.

The clinic’s Managing Director, Ms Monica Moyo said yesterday that the facility would open its doors to the public in April.

“We have since secured the premises and we are now in the process of refurbishing the building before opening the clinic.
“In fact, the have since secured an operating license from the local authority and we are now in the process of finalization the registration process with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare,” she said.

The proposed project, situated in Ward Four area of the district, would cater for communities in Mugaladivha, Matshiloni, Gongwe, Joko and the neighboring new resettlement areas.

“We will also cater for the in transit population using the Beitbridge-Masvingo road in the event of road accidents since the clinic is strategically located near the highway,” Ms Moyo said.

At the moment villagers in Ward four rely on Tongwe Clinic, which is located some 20km away.

“Villagers in Ward Four are forced to walk long distances to neighboring Tongwe Clinic while others incur huge costs by travelling a distance of 50km to Beitbridge town.

“This has therefore created a barrier of geographical accessibility and marked high cost for patients,” she said.
The clinic will be overseen by a registered medical practitioner for technical operations, two trained nurses, two nurse aides and a general hand.

“We will mainly be treating minor ailments, offer counseling, maternal health services and the provision of post natal care and family planning services,” she added.

The ward councillor, Ms Khensani Moyo welcomed the new development, saying the clinic would go along way in addressing some of the many challenges faced by local villagers.

“The clinic was long overdue because villagers in my ward were forced to walk several kilometers to Tongwe seeking medical assistance,” she said.

www.heral.co.zw/08 March 2011