STELLA Nyautate (65) braved the sweltering heat as she walked energetically along the road that tore across a mountainous range in rural Bende.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The elderly woman, with her three-year-old grandson strapped on her back, walked with a pace that denoted a woman used to travelling the long distances characterised by rugged terrain.
But it was the good news that lay ahead that gave her the impetus to travel 12km to Bende in Nyanga South constituency, where a village health post was to be officially launched.
“I am happy that the authorities have finally remembered us. It was difficult to access health services in this area. We were forced to travel up to 55km for the nearest health centre and the construction of this village health post at Bende is a blessing to most of us. We now have somewhere to start from,” she said.
Nyautate is one of the many villagers in rural Nyanga, Manicaland, who are still facing hardships in accessing health care due to the unavailability of clinics and other health centres. Despite the village post being a “small structure”, villagers who spoke to NewsDay expressed joy and welcomed the centre, which they described as an oasis in the desert.
The government, through the Health and Child Care ministry, recently launched the country’s first-ever village health post that is based at community level. The launch is in line with the National Health Strategic plan that seeks to ensure availability of health services to every person.
Though the country is still facing massive shortages of health centres 37 years after attaining independence with the rural folks mainly affected, the existence of the village health post is a major milestone to the marginalised communities, who have been travelling long distances to the nearest centre.
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Speaking during the launch of the post, headman Ambrose Nyamuona said the health post came as a relief to villagers, particularly pregnant women.
“We are happy that now we have a health centre of our own. Before this, people used to travel to Regina Coeli the nearest centre, which is more than 50km from here. It was hectic especially for the pregnant women, with some giving birth along the way while others suffered miscarriages due to difficulties in accessing assistance on time,” he said.
Bende village health post was constructed to the tune of $43 000 is manned by two professional nurses. The centre will service about 4 000 people from the surrounding community, at the same time easing pressure on nearest hospitals for people with minor ailments.
The development of Bende Village health post falls under telecommunications company TelOne’s e-health programme which supports various health initiatives across the country in their efforts to increase access to health in different communities.
According to Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyatwa, the government will soon establish 6 600 community health centres across the country, in a move meant to improve health service delivery to the people.
“This is the first health post in the country and I would love to congratulate the Bende community for being the first to have such an important centre. This is going to be an example as we are going to have about 6 600 community health posts of this nature across Zimbabwe.
This is a primary health care initiative that will see our people walking short distances to the nearest health institution,” Parirenyatwa said.
Currently the country has six central hospitals, eight provincial hospitals, 63 district hospitals, 23 general hospitals and 63 mission hospitals.
Three more village health posts are under construction in Nyanga South constituency, as the programme spills over to other areas. Nyanga South legislator Supa Mandiwanzira hailed the programme and said the people of Bende has been remembered, having been sidelined for a long time as far as health service delivery is concerned.
“The post is an initiative to address primary health care meant to assist people within a village or community context. This will see them walking a shorter distance to access health services. It is a Ministry of Health concept and we have implemented it for the first time in Zimbabwe at Bende.
“This is a welcome move, considering that the people of Bende have been isolated from health facilities because of their location. The community is on top of the Nyanga Mountain range and access roads are a nightmare. We are happy that something has been done to the benefit of the people,” he said.
Before the erection of the health post, villagers from Bende would rely on a mobile clinic from Nyanga District Hospital that visited the area once a week. However, due to financial constraints, resource shortage and the steep terrain, villagers would go even up to a month before accessing help from the mobile clinic.
Nyanga is one of the districts that tops in malaria prevalence rate in the country and the introduction of the health post will go a long way in alleviating the scourge.
According to latest statistics, Manicaland has the highest malaria morbidity and mortality rates in Zimbabwe, with Chipinge District contributing 34% of the figures. Nyanga comes second with 18%.
Although it took long for Nyautate and other villagers to get a local health centre, today the community is ecstatic to have their own facility, thereby making their life easier.
The centre which is at the heart of the village, it is a golden treasure to the villagers, who now have to walk short distances to the centre that is capable of dealing with minor and curable diseases.
Meanwhile, if government implements the village health post initiative, a number of marginalised communities, mainly in the rural areas will benefit a lot since most of them are still lagging behind as far as health delivery is concerned.
