News / National
Hwange Local Board commissions $150 000 clinic
28 Jun 2018 at 02:23hrs | Views
THE Hwange Local Board (HLB) has commissioned its first clinic to improve health service delivery in the area.
Officially commissioning Empumalanga Clinic on Tuesday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister, Cain Mathema said construction of the health institution was one of the council's "Quick Wins" projects.
"This facility will help in efforts to achieve universal coverage, provide access to safe and affordable medicines and vaccines for all," Mathema said.
"We, therefore, applaud the local authority for the construction of this clinic and ensuring that there is a state-of-the-art ambulance for referrals. Over $300 000 of council's own resources was put into this good cause."
He said the clinic would go a long way in enhancing the quality of primary health care within the community before calling on stakeholders to complement council to ensure the facility was fully equipped.
The clinic's maternity wing is, however, yet to start operating because of absence of critical equipment while most wards do not have beds, linen and drug trolleys.
Mathema bemoaned the unresolved boundary issues which he said were affecting service delivery and stifling development of Hwange town.
"I wish to draw your attention to the boundary issues affecting Hwange Local Board, in terms of the eight wards in the colliery concession area," he said.
"I'm aware that there is a draft blueprint for the incorporation of those wards into the administrative jurisdiction of HLB and that government is seized with the matter and it will be resolved as soon as possible.
"We are mindful of the fact that this issue affects the development of Hwange and has an impact on service delivery, especially to the affected eight wards."
Hwange town is currently being run by three authorities namely HLB, Hwange Colliery Company, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and this has often resulted in administrative clashes and failure by the town to attain municipality status.
Officially commissioning Empumalanga Clinic on Tuesday, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister, Cain Mathema said construction of the health institution was one of the council's "Quick Wins" projects.
"This facility will help in efforts to achieve universal coverage, provide access to safe and affordable medicines and vaccines for all," Mathema said.
"We, therefore, applaud the local authority for the construction of this clinic and ensuring that there is a state-of-the-art ambulance for referrals. Over $300 000 of council's own resources was put into this good cause."
He said the clinic would go a long way in enhancing the quality of primary health care within the community before calling on stakeholders to complement council to ensure the facility was fully equipped.
Mathema bemoaned the unresolved boundary issues which he said were affecting service delivery and stifling development of Hwange town.
"I wish to draw your attention to the boundary issues affecting Hwange Local Board, in terms of the eight wards in the colliery concession area," he said.
"I'm aware that there is a draft blueprint for the incorporation of those wards into the administrative jurisdiction of HLB and that government is seized with the matter and it will be resolved as soon as possible.
"We are mindful of the fact that this issue affects the development of Hwange and has an impact on service delivery, especially to the affected eight wards."
Hwange town is currently being run by three authorities namely HLB, Hwange Colliery Company, National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and this has often resulted in administrative clashes and failure by the town to attain municipality status.
Source - newsday
