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Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa

From Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
Chikombedzi Mission Hospital is almost clocking three years without a solution to its pressing water challenges, which doctors are saying is compromising their duties.

The hospital, which has been facing serious exodus of doctors due to its remote location, has seen the newly deployed medical superintended Dr Brian White calling for a quick address to the water problems.

Dr White said since 2015 when a team of journalists visited the hospital, they thought by speaking out to the world they would quickly get help towards solving the water problem.

“Since 2015 when you guys (journalists from across media houses who were on a constituency tour) visited us nothing has changed,” he said. “We are still facing the water crisis. Nothing has changed to be frank and its time we get help towards addressing this problem.

“Its very difficult to run a hospital which has no water. This area is prone to cholera cases and you will find it difficult containing such a decease when the hospital is dry. This area requires quick intervention to avoid loss of life.”

Dr White said Chikombedzi Hospital was good, despite its remote location and only needed a bit of improvements to be done. “I am enjoying being here, we just have to address the areas which need improvement and this will make our operations smooth,” he said.

“These people need a doctor, they need the best care just like anyone in Harare, so if every doctor turns against the area who will attend to them.” Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Retired Brigadier General Kalisto Gwanetsa said efforts to restore water supplies at the hospital were being made.

He said the crisis was not only at the hospital, but affected even the Chikombedzi business centre. “Chiredzi Rural District Council has planned to pump water from Mwenezi River, which is a perennial water source,” said Cde Gwanetsa. “The challenge now is that when the project to install pumps and pipes started, some material was washed away by Cyclone Dineo, a development, which affected progress.

“Initially, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority is the responsible authority to avail water to Chikombedzi, but council had to move in after noting that most boreholes in the area had dried up due to the fall in the water table, while Chikombedzi Dam had been seriously affected by siltation.”