Herald Correspondent
SHUMBA community in Goromonzi is set to benefit from a state-of-the-art clinic constructed with assistance from United Transport International. The clinic, built at a cost of US$60 000, will benefit more than 8 000 villagers in the area.
Goromonzi legislator Cde Biata Beatrice Nyamupinga donated more than US$5 000 towards the construction of the clinic.
Officially handing over the clinic to the Goromonzi Rural District Council recently, Cde Nyamupinga said rural women were the heart of development and the future of rural areas.
“The major concern to rural women is high infant mortality, which is attributed to the poor state of rural clinics and the long distances women travel especially during labour,” she said.
“I appreciate the efforts women contributed in building the Nyaure Clinic especially in bricklaying and mobilising building materials.
“We cannot talk about development without paying attention to health care. The burning desire for a decent delivery place motivated women to mould bricks, collect sand, water and assist the builders,” she said.
Cde Nyamupinga said the new clinic would improve health service delivery as the old one only catered for one patient at a time.
“That motivated mothers to have something of their own and came up with the initiative of building a better clinic which caters for everyone,” she said.
Cde Nyamupinga took a swipe at non-governmental organisations that make false promises.
“NGOs have a tendency of taking pictures that portray rural people negatively and in turn give promises they fail to honour.
“People have realised that and they now do something on their own, which provides the impetus for development.
“They need to acknowledge what the community starts and chip in with some help and not to meddle in the country’s affairs,” Cde Nyamupinga said.
Goromonzi Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Abednigo Zvobgo applauded Government for improving the lives of rural communities.
“Better clinics and roads in rural areas determine the mobility and livelihoods of the rural populace. That is our main agenda with the Government all the time and hopefully we will continue working along the same path,” he said.
The new Nyaure Clinic boasts a holding capacity of more than 15 patients at a time.
It consists of a maternity ward, a post-natal ward, two wards for men and women, consulting room, waiting room and an open space for patients to relax.
It also has a 6,5KVA standby generator, water geysers, incubators, a submersible borehole, 5 000-litre water tank that will supply running water, septic tanks and a closed placenta pit.
The old clinic was converted into a shelter in which expectant mothers are accommodated until their time of delivery.