Stanbic donates borehole to mount St Mary's hospital in Wedza

Stanbic Bank has donated a solar-powered borehole and a 10 000 litre tank to Mt St Mary's Hospital in Wedza, Mashonaland East as part of its commitment to prop up government's health delivery services obligations.

The Standard Bank Group subsidiary's Head, Brand and Marketing, Palmer Mugavha, said the institution was committed to play a pivotal role in supporting the needs of the nation's health sector hence this donation.

Mugavha said the donation was in response to a clarion call by authorities from Mt St Mary's Hospital who were facing challenges in accessing constant supply of water.

The institution's authorities had bemoaned the erratic water supply due to power cuts, faults and cable thefts in the area and how this was greatly impacting the operations of the institution, especially the Maternity Ward.
"It is a fact that the non-availability of running water can heavily compromise service delivery within our health institutions because running water is critical. As Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe we appreciate this fact and hence we committed to the provision of an independent water source that would ensure the Hospital operations are never disrupted due to lack of water," said Mugavha.

He said the donation was part of Stanbic Bank's Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiatives under one of its strategic pillars – Health and sanitation.

Over the years, Stanbic Bank has supported the nation's health institutions through its flagship health initiative, Ruyamuro-Usizo.

"Last year alone Stanbic resuscitated a maternity operating theatre at Sally Mugabe Hospital as well as refurbished the recovery room. We handed over a haemodialysis machine to Gwanda General Hospital and 400 blankets to Harare Children's hospital as we continue to support  the growth and sustainable development of public health services in Zimbabwe through Ruyamuro-Usizo," he said.

The bank's CSI initiatives also span other areas such as education, sports and the environment as the institution commits to making sustainable impact in the communities in which it operates.

Mt St May's Hospital Doctor-In-Charge and Wedza Distict Medical Officer (DMO), Dr Herbert Bandiki, said the borehole was a life saver given the need for constant supply of water for the various sections of the health institution.

Dr Bandiki said the 140-bed hospital attends to over 89 000 patients from not only the Wedza District but from as far as Masvingo and other areas. While every department needed water, the maternity wing is the worst affected because the institution offers free service in that section.

The demand for water is very high given that over 13 clinics in and around Wedza refer their patients to the Hospital.

He said while the institution had three boreholes, the biggest challenge is that they were all electricity-powered and are thus not always functioning owing to the persistent power cuts and in some instances technical faults.
Dr Bandiki said the institution's various sections such as Maternity, laundry, kitchen, operating theatres, training school and COVID 19, isolation centre among others utilise close to 15000 litres a day hence the solar powered borehole was a big relief for the institution.

"It is a huge relief that all the departments of the Hospital are now connected to the solar powered borehole and our water crisis has now been solved permanently and we say a big thank you to Stanbic bank,' said Dr Bandiki.