SAKUNDA Holdings and its associates have come up with a
multi-million dollar initiative to resuscitate and equip Rock Foundation
Medical Centre and St Annes Hospital as a way of complementing Government
efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virus has so far claimed one person in Zimbabwe and
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been calling on the private sector to assist
the government.
The two health facilities which have been identified by
Sakunda Holdings have been idle for a long time and will be used for COVID -19
response only.
The company, which is currently undergoing several relevant
processes, wants the medical facilities to be open to everyone contrary to
social media reports that they will be open to government and ZANU PF bigwigs.
It is envisaged that if all processes are done on time, one
of the facilities will be operational by Wednesday next week are expected to be
fully operational by Wednesday next week if the programme goes according to
plan.
Sakunda Holdings officials have already toured the health
facilities and have so far moved their personnel at Rock Foundation Medical
Centre after working with local medical experts and specialist to identify what
is required while negotiations are currently underway with management at St
Annes Hospital amid indications that the company is ready to foot all the
refurbishment bills.
In Correspondence between Sakunda Holdings and government,
the firm indicated its desire to complement government efforts when they wrote
to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care seeking
licenses.
“The government of Zimbabwe has implemented a raft of
measures to curb and control the outbreak of the disease albeit under tough
economic circumstances. It is against this background that Sakunda Holdings
(PVT) Ltd and its associates have come up with a private initiative to
complement government efforts to curb this pandemic specifically in the
provision of health facilities, equipment, training and vaccines. Sakunda has
identified Rock Foundation Medical Centre as a facility in the fight against
COVID-19,” said the letter signed by Everton Mlalazi in charge of Special
Projects at Sakunda holdings.
The firm is requesting the government to facilitate the
engagement with relevant bodies to expedite the process in view of the urgency
required to deal with the pandemic.
“Licenses will be sought from the following bodies: MCAZ,
Pharmacists Council, Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe, Medical and
Dental Council of Zimbabwe and Health Professions Authority,” said Mlalazi.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr
Agnes Mahomva wrote to St Annes Hospital Manager expressing satisfactory
following a tour which officials from the ministry and executives from Sakunda
holdings had at their health facility.
“The team was satisfied with what they saw during the tour
and would like you to finalise our request. Please note that we have since
identified Sakunda holdings (copied) to be our partner to work with us and
yourselves to do all the remaining renovations and refurbishments necessary for
the hospital to function in the shortest period of time. Sakunda Holdings has
confirmed that they have the resources and funding to do the work and hence
refurbishments will not be at your costs. May you also note as discussed during
the tour of your hospital our request to use this facility is for up to six
months only for the COVID-19 response,” said Dr Mahovha.
Sakunda Holdings wants to use its resources and support
government in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training of
medical personnel and vaccines.
Zimbabwe has three confirmed cases of COVID-19. ZBC
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