News / Health
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo medical centre finally complete
10 Nov 2014 at 07:36hrs | Views
JOSHUA Mqabuko Nkomo medical centre Ekusileni Hospital in Bulawayo has finally been completed with South African-based healthcare company, Phodiso set to manage the medical centre, a government official has said.
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche yesterday said inspections by his ministry as well as from a medical team would be conducted once new state of the art medical machinery is delivered to the 200-bed medical centre.
"I can confirm that renovations at Ekusileni Medical Centre have been completed. Once state-of-the-art medical equipment is delivered, it will be inspected by a team from my ministry as well as a medical team from the Ministry of Health and Child Care," Goche was quoted by the State Press.
He said a series of meetings were recently held between his ministry and the National Social Security Association (NSSA) management where NSSA was given sole caretakership of the medical centre before Phodiso takes over management of the facility.
"Ekusileni is no longer in our hands. On our part, we've completed our assignment and NSSA has taken over," said Goche.
He lamented the decade-long neglect of the medical centre, saying fulfilling Dr Joshua Nkomo's legacy was important.
The hospital was briefly opened in 2004 but closed after realisation that the equipment acquired by the institution and worth millions of dollars was obsolete despite millions having been invested by NSSA into the hospital.
In July, parliament booted out a team of medical practitioners led by Dr Daud Dube who initiated the project, after failing to honour agreements made to develop it.
The medical centre, which was built at a cost of about $4 million in 2000, will have 13 departments when fully operational and has the potential to increase its capacity to 265 beds.
Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Nicholas Goche yesterday said inspections by his ministry as well as from a medical team would be conducted once new state of the art medical machinery is delivered to the 200-bed medical centre.
"I can confirm that renovations at Ekusileni Medical Centre have been completed. Once state-of-the-art medical equipment is delivered, it will be inspected by a team from my ministry as well as a medical team from the Ministry of Health and Child Care," Goche was quoted by the State Press.
He said a series of meetings were recently held between his ministry and the National Social Security Association (NSSA) management where NSSA was given sole caretakership of the medical centre before Phodiso takes over management of the facility.
He lamented the decade-long neglect of the medical centre, saying fulfilling Dr Joshua Nkomo's legacy was important.
The hospital was briefly opened in 2004 but closed after realisation that the equipment acquired by the institution and worth millions of dollars was obsolete despite millions having been invested by NSSA into the hospital.
In July, parliament booted out a team of medical practitioners led by Dr Daud Dube who initiated the project, after failing to honour agreements made to develop it.
The medical centre, which was built at a cost of about $4 million in 2000, will have 13 departments when fully operational and has the potential to increase its capacity to 265 beds.
Source - Chronicle
