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Zvamaida Murwira Herald Reporter
The Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe has unveiled a US$14 million facility aimed at transforming two health centres in Harare and Norton, a development that is expected to revolutionise the health delivery system in the country in line with Government’s Vision 2030.

The health centres set for the major facelift are Athol House Medical Facility in Eastlea, Harare, and a piece of IDBZ owned land in Norton which the financial institution intends to develop into a modern medical centre in partnership with PSMI.

This comes as Chitungwiza Central Hospital has floated a tender to refurbish, re-equip and establish a super specialist hospital on a joint venture partnership model.

Both IDBZ and Chitungwiza Central Hospital made the announcement of their project in a Government Gazette published yesterday.

The financial institution said it intended to enter into partnerships to develop and finance health facilities in order to realise its mandate to improve living standards through quality health care provision.

“On Athol House medical facilities, IDBZ owns Athol House in Eastlea, Harare,” said IDBZ. “It is the Bank’s intention to partner Health Point in the provision of medical services at these premises.

“There exist strong demand for medical facilities in Zimbabwe. There is a limited number of hospital beds in major centres in Zimbabwe. Athol House will be converted into modern medical facilities with a casualty department, radiology centre, wards, Intensive Care Unit and High Dependency Unit and a modern theatre.

“Once completed, Health Point will run the facilities as they have the professional expertise to run facilities of this nature.

“On Norton medical facilities, IDBZ owns a piece of land in Norton which it intends to develop into a modern medical centre in partnership with PSMI. The bank will provide the infrastructure, while PSMI will run the facility on a lease basis.

“The preliminary project cost stands at US$14 million. The bank, therefore, seeks to partner long term investors who are keen to provide project finance for the project. The financial structure will be determined and discussed with successful investors.”

The Bank said it was undertaking a market scan to establish a database of interested firms to partner it in these programmes.

“This is meant to build a resilient health system leading to improvement in access to safe and quality health services,” it said. “The programmes will involve the construction/rehabilitation of fit for purposes health facilities in the country as part of the bank’s economic strategy.

“This will assist the country in making progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (Number) Three (ensuring health lives and promoting well-being for all ages).”

This comes as Chitungwiza General Hospital said it wanted to engage reputable firms or a consortium to refurbish various sections of the facility to modern standards within the institution’s land that would be mutually agreed.

The firms would be responsible for assessing and upgrading radiology services, pathology laboratory, pharmaceutical, hemodialysis, dental, ophthalmology, funeral parlour, catering services, coffee shop and kiosk, rehabilitation and Internet café, printing, scanning and laminating services.