Tears, relief, and hope at Bulawayo mobile clinic

A frail 48-year-old man was helped into a mobile clinic at eBusteni in Cowdray Park by three nurses, in a moment that highlighted the growing role of mobile healthcare services in improving access to medical treatment in underserved communities.

His wife, Dzamisai Chipepera, said the family had spent a week without seeking proper medical attention because they could not afford consultation fees or transport costs to a conventional health facility.

"I came here today with my husband because he is not feeling well. I was received very well, and I was not expecting it," she said.

"I was worried about who was going to help me with my husband because I came alone, but two workers quickly came to assist me. They helped each other carry him inside, and he got the help he needed."

The mobile clinic, stationed at eBusteni, is operated by Zimbos Abantu Healthcare on Wheels in partnership with the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe under the AIDS Levy-funded social contracting programme.

Chipepera said her husband's condition had worsened over several days due to financial constraints that made it impossible to seek treatment earlier.

"A whole week, and I could not afford the fees to get his clinic card stamped," she said.

She praised the speed and dignity with which healthcare workers responded to her husband's condition.

"The doctor was here, asked him some questions, and attended to him. I thought I was going to wait in a queue, as we see in some hospitals, to the extent that some people end up dying while waiting in line," she said.

"You end up feeling sad for the person you have brought for medical attention, but I did not see that here."

She added that the most important outcome for her was receiving a medical prescription, which now allows her to purchase medication.

"What I believe is most important is the doctor's prescription. A lot of people are dying in their homes because they do not have prescriptions," she said.

Zimbos Abantu Healthcare on Wheels chief executive officer Tawanda Mushawedu said the programme was designed to address gaps in accessibility, affordability and inclusivity in primary healthcare delivery.

"We are a healthcare service provider offering primary healthcare through mobile clinics," he said.

"We are pleased to have started operations in 2021, and we now have 12 mobile clinics."

He said the initiative targets communities located far from health facilities, where transport costs and consultation fees often prevent residents from seeking timely medical attention.

"At the moment, services in Cowdray Park are being subsidised by the National AIDS Council through the AIDS Levy," Mushawedu said.

He added that the mobile units help households reduce transport-related expenses, which in some cases previously reached up to US$2 for a single trip to a clinic.

According to programme data, more than 10,800 patients have received free medical consultations in the past nine months. Over 8,000 people have undergone blood pressure screening, while more than 6,600 have accessed blood sugar testing services.

The initiative has also provided STI screening for over 600 patients and prostate cancer screening for nearly 500 men.

Operations are currently active in Cowdray Park and Emganwini in Bulawayo, as well as parts of Harare and Mashonaland East.

For residents like Chipepera, the impact of the mobile clinic extends beyond statistics, offering a sense of dignity and relief in moments of medical crisis.

"I have now seen it for myself," she said.

"It is actually more helpful than a building. I got my prescription here for free, so the prescription is very, very important."

As mobile healthcare services continue to expand, they are increasingly being viewed as a critical bridge between vulnerable communities and essential medical care in Zimbabwe's strained public health system.