CHITUNGWIZA Central Hospital, arguably Zimbabwe’s most developed public health institution, has scored another first.
Report by Tangai Chipangura
The hospital has acquired the biggest medical diagnosis machine in Africa.
The machine, a state-of-the-art work of technology, was commissioned at the hospital by the supplier, Jetlabs Medical Solutions on Friday.
There are two other smaller versions of the machine at private health institutions elsewhere in the country and the one at Chitungwiza is the biggest and most sophisticated on the continent.
The Vitros 3600 Immunodiagnostic System, the scientific name of the machine, is capable of doing a wide range of tests including hormones for thyroid functions, fertility hormones, detecting tumour markers and immunoglobulins as well as providing cardiac function tests and iron studies.
Managing director of Jetlabs Medical Solutions who supplied the machine, Jethro Mukome, said the machine did 32 different tests at one time and the results were instant.
“The machine is an outstanding analyser, the first of its kind to come to Africa. It boasts of e-connectivity to a centre in the United Kingdom which makes it possible for any technical problem to be detected and reported before it happens on the machine,” Mukome said.
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He said his company specialised in supplying diagnostic and medical equipment to health institutions and had supplied several state-of-the-art equipment to hospitals and clinics in the country. Jetlabs also supplied theatre equipment and other medical consumables, he said.
Chief executive officer of Chitungwiza Central Hospital Dr Obadiah Moyo, who has superintended over the phenomenal development and modernisation of the hospital, said it was through hard work and professional working ethic that the hospital had assumed its prestigious position as the country’s best public health institution.
“We are excited about this new technology and the great improvement the introduction of this machine is going to contribute to health care provision, not only for Chitungwiza, but for the nation at large. The introduction of this machine will enable us to do diagnostic tests that we were referring the patients to get elsewhere. As an ISO certified institute, we strive for excellence and it is our desire to keep abreast with modern medical technology which will enable us to keep our vision and provide quality health care services,” Dr Moyo said.
He said Chitungwiza Hospital valued its relations with the local community and disadvantaged members of society countrywide.
As a result, the hospital was the only one offering free haemo-dialysis services for people with kidney problems.
The hospital has eight haemo-dialysis machines that did two shifts a day, he said.
That meant that 16 people received free dialysis every day.
Some of the people who were receiving the service last Friday came from as far as Chimanimani, Bulawayo and Chiredzi.
“Can you imagine that at a cost of $250 per session, where would these poor people get the money to pay for the required three sessions per week,” Dr Moyo questioned.
“This is the reason that we decided to offer the service for free. It is in line with the hospital’s policy of assisting the needy members of our community. The hospital and the community are interdependent on each other.”
Chitungwiza Central Hospital was the first to receive ISO certification in the country, owing to the high standards that it has achieved and sustained.
The hospital’s laboratory status has also been rated Number One in the country by the World Health Organisation which granted it the Four Star status.
The arrival of the diagnostic machine is set to raise the status of the hospital’s laboratory even higher, Dr Moyo said.
He said among the hospital’s numerous development projects were the on-going refurbishment of the hospital’s 11 wards to world class standards, the recent refurbishment of a top-of-the range mortuary, an on-going parlour service project, the construction of a two-classroom block and dormitory for Clinical Officer trainees.
“We now boast of a brand new 40-capacity mortuary which has floor and wall tiles and we will soon have high class subsidised parlour service to serve the berieved who would now not need to go to expensive private parlours. Our hospital wards are in the process of refurbishment to attain world class standards and soon all the 11 wards will be as good as new,” Dr Moyo said.
