Government appreciates private sector’s co-operation in improving the country’s health system

Gibson Mhaka

GOVERNMENT appreciates the role of the private sector in improving the country’s health system in line with the vision to create an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Bulawayo provincial medical director (PMD) Dr Maphios Siamuchembu has said.

Officially opening Charter House Medical Centre Hospital in Bulawayo on Monday, Dr Siamuchembu who was being represented by acting provincial Epidemiology and Disease Control Officer for Bulawayo province Dr Tariroyashe Chivanganye commended the private sector for heeding the Government’s call in complementing its efforts in the provision of accessible and affordable health care services.

“I want to thank Consolidated Health Private Limited for your hospitality and establishment of a medical centre in the city of Bulawayo.

“Health is a fundamental human right in terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Improved health is central to human happiness and well-being and economic progress as health populations live longer and are more productive and accumulate more savings.

“In line with the Sustainable Development Goal Number 3 on health and well-being and also in line with the country’s Vision 2030 theme towards an upper middle income economy, health and well-being being one of the 14 key priorities areas, I’m happy that on the 1st of March 2022, Charter House Medical Centre Hospital started complementing Government efforts when it opened its doors to the population of Bulawayo,” said Dr Siamuchembu.

Charter House Medical Centre Hospital which is located at the corner of Leopold Takawira and Fort Street offers services which include 24-hour emergency care, maternity, operating theatre, dental, optical, specialist services, among other health services.

Speaking at the same occasion one of the directors Dr Cletos Masiya spoke highly of the services attached to the medical facility which he said were readily accessible to the residents of Bulawayo.

“We are so excited to have set up this facility  in Bulawayo specifically  because selfishly that is where I grew up  and it was befitting  that one of our biggest investments  should be here in Bulawayo.

“Charter House Medical Centre Hospital is a multi-departmental and 24 hour emergency centre situated in the heart of the Bulawayo CBD. It houses emergency rooms and a full blown theatre for all kinds of procedures and other services which include surgical, optical, dental, x-rays and Ultrasound scans.

“We also have a hospital pharmacy and maternity wards for maternity cases and a Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We work closely with specialists and all our operations are done by specialists although some of them are not employed by our medical facility,” said Dr Masiya.

He said they were also working with other health professionals in the public sector in line with their vision of positively impacting the community.

“We don’t work in isolation, we work with the public sector where other health professionals from the public health sector can also come and access or utilise our services. Right now we are in the process of working with the National University and Technology (Nust)’s Faculty of Medicine where we want their trainees and specialists to come and have access to our hospital.

“We want their students to come and have a feel of what it takes to run a private health institution,” said Dr Masiye.

He adds: “As a facility and as part of our corporate social responsibility, we have a very strong health and wellness programme where we will be offering free doctor’s consultations and health check-ups at the hospital. For example during the month of October we have 280 women passing through our doors for free breast cancer screening, check-ups and counselling and screening for diabetes, hypertension and blood pressure.

“This month (November) is Men’s Health Awareness Month so we are also inviting men to come and have their prostate checks done for various age groups that are from 40 years and above.

“We also have corporate offsite medical services and an eye unit under our brand The Eye Pod which trains optometrists and it’s the first of its kind in the country to have a private institution training optometrists”.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is on a drive to improve its services sector and social safety nets  in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the health services has been identified as one of the sectors in need of a reboot.