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Freedom Mupanedemo and Elita Chikwati in Mberengwa
The Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ)has completed the construction of a-state-of-the-art clinic in Chief Negove’s area, bringing relief to locals who have been walking for over 25km to access the nearest health care services at Chibi Mission Hospital in Masvingo  Province.

Yesterday, AFZ members toured the clinic ahead of its official handover on Tuesday next week which is expected to coincide with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Week running from August 1 to 11.

The new-look six-bed Clinic is now operational with two resident nurses and a nurse aid among other supporting staff.

There are plans to rope in a resident doctor after AFZ  also built the nurses and doctor’s  residence.

Before the constructions, the clinic, which only used to serve as a nutrition centre, had been using a two-roomed building to provide all health services including helping mothers in labour.

Speaking after the tour of the clinic yesterday, Chief Negove said his community was happy with the work that was undertaken by the Air Force of Zimbabwe.

“I am at loss for words, this is a huge relief for the community which has since independence been walking to another province to access health services.

We are grateful to the Airforce of Zimbabwe and our Government for constructing this facility.

“It is a huge development for our community and we can’t express our happiness with words,” he said.

Chief Negove said the majority of his subjects had no identity cards and birth certificates as most of them were born at Chibi Mission Hospital in Masvingo province.

“Our expecting mothers have been going to Chibi Mission Hospital and when they intend to get birth certificates and identify cards in Midlands, they would be referred to the Hospital where they were born which is in Masvingo province,” he said.

Chief Negove said most of his subjects were reluctant to obtain identify particulars bearing numbers for Masvingo province when they were from the Midlands.

The Clinic’s Sister-In Charge, Onnet Dube echoed Chief Negove’s sentiments adding that the working environment was now         conducive.

“We are very grateful to army. They helped save a dire situation and now we are working in a refreshing and conducive environment.

“Before we were using two rooms to do everything and there was no privacy for patients and now it’s a good working environment,” she said.