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From Walter Nyamukondiwa in MUBAIRA
The Mhondoro community has appealed for rural clinics to be equipped with instruments for the detection of most health conditions to avoid referrals.

They said this would save them from incurring huge travel costs and travelling long distances.

Speaking on the sidelines of a National Aids Council Gala in Mhondoro last Friday, people in the area said most conditions were referred to Chegutu district hospital.

“You have to part with $5 one way to Chegutu after being referred for various tests including blood sugar levels and X-ray. Money is not easy to get in a rural set up,” said Mr Tenson Jakwara.

X-rays, scans and tests such as blood sugar level are referred to Chegutu which is about 55km from Mubaira.

The other alternative is to go to St Michaels Mission hospital.

Mhondoro-Mubaira House of Assembly member Cde George Gangarahwe said there was need to equip rural clinics as transport was expensive.

Cde Gangarahwe said there should be at least two clinics in each of the nine wards in his constituency.

“People in Ward 27 are in urgent need of a clinic as some of them have to walk long distances to the nearest clinic. There is Presbyterian School clinic which mostly serves the schoolchildren,” said Cde Gangarahwe.

He called for more boreholes and water harvesting infrastructure like weirs in the area to give people access to clean drinking water and bolster agriculture.

People resort to using unprotected water sources as some boreholes have broken down while others are located a distance from some households.

There are also calls for more schools in the area as the current 68 schools are not enough to ensure children walk shorter distances.