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Bende Clinic in Nyanga South constituency which was built by Honourable Supa Mandiwanzira

Liberty Dube Mutare Bureau
THE recent construction of Bende Clinic in Nyanga South constituency will play a critical role in reducing deaths from minor and curable illnesses.

In an interview during a tour of the medical facility recently, Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, said it was sad that people were travelling long distances to get medical services, a situation which saw some of the villagers failing to make it alive.

The facility, which is set to be commissioned by Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa next month, is expected to alleviate challenges bedevilling the Nyanga health sector where patients are travelling long distances to acquire medical services.

The clinic will serve more than 4 000 people in the community.

Cde Mandiwanzira, who is the Nyanga Supa Foundation patron, said he was touched by the plight of Bende villagers, hence the move to mobilise resources under the Foundation to establish the clinic.

“I heard touching stories of people who died after failing to get medical attention. I heard of miscarriages caused by unavailability of a health access points and it was very touching.

This is a major health care boost and we will continue to mobilise more resources to establish more healthcare centres,” he said. Local leadership also chronicled sad tales of people who lost lives while others suffered miscarriages on their way to far away hospitals.

Bende headman, Mr Taylor Ziko, said people used to travel to Tombo, Mt Melleray, Regina Coeli and Nyanga District Hospital to acquire medical attention, but the establishment of the new clinic was a positive development.

“People used to travel long distances to get medical attention. We had problems here in Bende. We would go to Regina Coeli, Mt Melleray and Nyanga, for instance, I encountered numerous problems when I accompanied my wife to the nearest hospital. She had to give birth before we had reached our intended destination. I wept in confusion. I am glad that we finally have a clinic,” Mr Ziko said.

Nyanga District Medical Officer, Dr Admore Jokwiro, said the establishment of the clinic was a dream come true for Bende villagers.

“Finally, there is a clinic here and this is cause for celebration. As you might have seen, the roads here are in bad shape and imagine in cases of emergency, it is not easy to drive to the nearest hospital but now that there is a clinic, it is a welcome development for the community,” he said.

Dr Jokwiro said there was a Telemedicine facility that would see patients consulting doctors from Nyanga District Hospital.

“We consulted Minister Mandiwanzira and told him that although he had worked hard on roads rehabilitation, construction of school blocks, assisting with various projects there was need for Bende villagers to have a medical facility like this, and we are happy he responded positively,” Dr Jokwiro added.