Public health facilities get facelift
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
UNDER the Second Republic, a great deal of effort has been made to upgrade and expand public sector health facilities and ensure that all Zimbabweans can access, as a practical right, adequate health treatment in the public sector.
Government, through ZimPost, has partnered with a private player, Samp Group, to establish 150 telehealth kiosks and 750 telehealth booths in rural areas in the next two years as part of ongoing efforts to enhance health service delivery in rural areas. Telehealth kiosks rely on telemedicine technology to connect patients with doctors remotely via video conferencing.
The project, which is being implemented by ZimSmart Villages, a local telehealth and remote monitoring service, will also allow villagers to access a doctor remotely via a video, get diagnosed and receive treatment.
The programme officially started with a pilot project in Chikomba West on 3 February 2024. The pilot ran for three months and after its successful conclusion, the telehealth and remote monitoring service was officially launched on 11 May 2024 by the National Health Ambassador and First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
After the launch, 12 more telehealth centres were established at post offices in areas like Nyamaropa, Headlands, Beatrice, Nyazura, Shurugwi, Redcliff, Zvishavane, Mberengwa, Hauna and Brittania. The programme has been well received and brought relief to people who used to travel long distances to access doctors and medication .
ZimPost postmaster-general Mr Maxwell Chitendeni said the partnership with SAMP group will allow Zimbabwe to position itself at a global level.
“This partnership that we are forging today is a great opportunity for both entities that have decided to come together to form a synergy around health care in Zimbabwe”, Mr Chitendeni said.
“One of our greatest ambitions as we are starting this project is for us to be able to position whichever product or service that we are offering to the populace at a global level”.
He said through a public-private partnership model, they were engaging private partners to come to the post office as part of efforts to repurpose their buildings.
“We have engaged ZimSmart villages and as the post office, we are ready and prepared to transform the nation as we want to leave no one and no place behind in terms of e-health”, Mr Chitendeni said.
ZimSmart Villages, a Zimbabwean tele-health organisation, has partnered with The Samp Group, a United States-based company of Indian origin, to deliver this initiative.
Founder and chairman of the Samp Group, Mr Ritesh Patel said: “Through this initiative, we are bridging the gap by bringing USA and Indian healthcare systems to improve healthcare in Zimbabwe. This association ensures the Samp brand will have a lasting presence in Zimbabwe and it is my contribution to the people of Zimbabwe”.
Chief medical officer at ZimSmart Villages, Dr Admore Jokwiro, hailed the initiative.
“This partnership represents a perfect synergy, we will not only bring healthcare to millions who need it, but also continue to promote innovation, technology and sports as pathways to improved health outcomes in Zimbabwe.”
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