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Tawanda Mangoma in Chikombedzi
VILLAGERS here have implored the Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to intervene in addressing a myriad of challenges bedevilling Chikombedzi Mission Hospital.

The hospital is struggling to offer standard services due to a number of reasons, including a debt of over $120 000 (owed to ZETDC), a non-functional mortuary, the unavailability of water and a high turnover of doctors.

According to members of the community, service delivery issues have haunted the hospital in the last 10 years.

The situation has also been worsened by the poor state of the roads which were generally inaccessible, especially during the rainy season.

In addition, the hospital serves an estimated population of over 150 000, while  its mortuary has a carrying capacity of 10 bodies.

Mr Filipe Manyange of Gezani area said they were hopeful that the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) would fulfil its promise to build an alternative hospital in the area.

“Travelling from here to Chikombedzi with a patient is very difficult,” he said.

“You find that our area has no cellphone network and has a poor transport system.

“We are then forced to ferry our relatives for nearly 100 kilometres to Chikombedzi to seek medical care.

“At the same time, the hospital (Chikombedzi) has no medical doctor, water, electricity, making it difficult for our sick relatives. If you lose them, there is no mortuary.”

Mr Manyange said the idea of constructing an alternative hospital in Gezani was of paramount importance as it would ease pressure on Chikombedzi.

He said the army had moulded bricks for the new hospital.