The Harare City Council (HCC) is set to construct more clinics and also refurbish old clinics as a way of improving and increasing the scope of services offered at its health institutions. This will include 24 hour causality services, operating theatres and emergency units with good doctor coverage, a move which is going to decongest referral hospitals.
Three more clinics in Harare will be constructed soon and the city authorities are the process of upgrading four other clinics. The Mabvuku Polyclinic refurbishment work is has been completed and it will operating as a sub Hospital.
to access improved basic services the Harare residents are expected to pay city council rates. The Health Service Director of Harare City Council Dr Prosper Chonzi said, “As a way of bringing comprehensive health services closer to residents strategic decisions are needed, which will see polyclinics being equipped with x-ray units and laboratories.”
He also said the city health department had already completed upgrading various clinics in Harare’s sub hospitals.
“We have already constructed new clinics in the residential areas of Hopley, Glen Norah, and Caledonia. Harare City Council is also upgrading to satellite status clinics in Highlands, Waterfalls, Budiriro and Kuwadzana. Throughout the City of Harare we have identified space and work has begun,” he said.
The City of Harare is growing and hence new settlements are sprawling thus the need to increase access to health services. Although some of the areas had not been planned for health facilities will be made available.
The refurbishment of clinics as well as upgrading of clinics into hospitals is in line with 100 days plan assigned to ministers by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Comrade Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
Last week the Minister of Health and Child Welfare Doctor David Parirenyatwa scrapped off maternity fees, introduced free treatment of children less than five years as well as free treatment of elderly people above the age of 65 years as part of his 100 days plan.
Poor performance of Zimbabwe’s health care system has seen patients being referred from the lowest level of care to the highest level of care in the referral chain locally and abroad. Poor service delivery in small clinics.
The expansion of the scope of service is expected to increase access to comprehensive health care in Harare residents who crowd and struggle for health services at national referral hospitals of Harare and Parirenyatwa Central Hospitals.
