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Mukudzei Chingwere recently in Geneva, Switzerland

Zimbabwe is set to get two state-of-the-art specialised and containerised theatres for children after a Scottish charity, Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), pledged to donate these to augment what Zimbabwe already has.

The pledge came after officials from KidsOR met the Zimbabwe delegation at the ongoing 76th edition of the World Health Assembly (WHA76) where the Zimbabwean team impressed on the journey they have started in revamping the national health system and close gaps through cooperation with partners.

KidsOR is a charity founded in 2018 and is involved in installing paediatric operating rooms in developing countries with the aim of availing safe surgery to every child who needs it.

Zimbabwe is currently on a drive to revamp its national health systems towards universal health coverage of quality consistent with an empowered upper-middle income economy as envisioned by President Mnangagwa.

To achieve this target, Zimbabwe is investing heavily in the health services using locally mobilised resources but authorities appreciate the need to reach out to well-meaning partners and funders in a bid to speed up the process for the immediate benefit of the populace.

In an interview, the Chief Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Israel Dube confirmed the offer to be extended to Sally Mugabe Hospital. He said once up and running, the Ministry would also look at setting up the same operating rooms using its own resources.

“They (KidsOR) usually support children’s hospitals and in our case they agreed to set up at Sally Mugabe Children’s Hospital,” said Dr Dube.

“In the interim, they are looking at giving us two to support the six operating rooms that are already there. The children’s hospital is very busy in terms of surgeries, it has different specialties. There are those who do brain surgeries, ear, nose and throat surgeries, those who do paediatric surgeries and those who do general.

“So, there is always limited theatre space so when we get these two extra ones it will make quite a big difference,” he said.

Going forward, Dr Dube said Government had already set up plans to increase its paediatric surgeries capacity with the initial plan targeting Sally Mugabe and Mpilo Hospitals.

Thereafter, the plan was to increase capacity at all the provincial hospitals. At present, Parirenyatwa has the largest paediatric theatre capacity with 12 operating rooms in the main theatre plus more in the casualty and burns unit.

Over and above the donations, KidsOR also offers training in maintaining and operating rooms.