PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has underscored the need to capacitate
district and provincial hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment as part of
Government’s efforts to revive the health sector.
Speaking at the 331st Ordinary Session of the Politburo in
Harare last week, the President said there was need to improve the health
delivery system in line with the party’s election manifesto.
He said Government had received an assortment of medical
equipment and drugs meant for major referral hospitals but the same must now
cascade to district and provincial hospitals.
“While our initial focus is on central hospitals, the next
phase will equally ensure that the provincial and district health facilities
are appropriately equipped and resourced.
“During the course of the month, I was pleased to hand over
an assortment of medical equipment and drugs to the Ministry of Health and
Child Care, which we purchased from India.
“We have since received a large consignment from the United
Arab Emirates (UAE) which will also be distributed to hospitals throughout the
country.
“As you will recall, our promise to turn around our
country’s health delivery system is clearly articulated in the manifesto.
Hence, our initiatives must be seen in that context,” said the President.
The call comes after the President fulfilled a commitment
to improve the state of affairs in public health institutions three months
after meeting senior doctors who described to him how the public health
delivery system had deteriorated.
In fulfilling the doctor’s request, President Mnangagwa
handed over a consignment of the required medical equipment which included
infant incubators and resuscitors for neonatal intensive care units,
multi-parameter monitors for adults and paediatrics, operating theatre tables
(electric and hydraulic), portable electroncephalography machine, respiratory
aid ventilator, and video endoscopy, gastroscopy and colonoscopy sets. He also
handed over intensive care unit ventilators for adults and paediatrics, mobile
X-ray machines and anaesthetic machines.
The equipment was bought under the accelerated purchase
system, and is targeting to refurbish Parirenyatwa, Harare Central, Chitungwiza
Central, Mpilo and United Bulawayo hospitals. This is the first consignment,
with more expected in the next two months.
President Mnangagwa is on record as saying the health
sector must be prioritised as it was important to promote the nation’s health.
Herald
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