Matjinge Clinic Opens Doors to Better Care for Women

The opening of Gambu rural health centre is a relief to pregnant women who suffered poor access to health services in Bulilima district.

The official opening of Gambu Clinic has lightened the load for villagers who had to walk up to 20 kilometres to access nearest health facility.

BY MELODY MPANDE | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | FEB 13, 2023

BULILIMA (The Citizen Bulletin) — The long wait is finally over for Charity Dube as her dream of having a clinic right at her doorstep has come to pass.

For years, Dube and several other villagers of Gambu and Matjinje in Bulilima district, Matabeleland South had to endure the pain of walking long distances to access primary health care services.

After years of wondering if giving birth in a decent labour room would ever be possible, Dube is celebrating that Gambu rural health centre finally opened its doors to the public in December 2022 to offer maternity services among others.

Years back, Dube and other expecting mothers were exposed to labour complications after giving birth at home, or on their way to the nearest health facility located several kilometres away.

“But it’s all now a thing of the past,” Dube says.

Locals and the Diaspora community pooled resources together to construct Gambu rural health centre after observing the long distances travelled by ward 5 villagers to seek medical attention.

Clinics in the neighbouring wards of Ndiweni, Tokwana and Dombodema are several kilometres away.

Project leader Paul Khumalo says each household contributed US$10 or ZAR100 before the diaspora community and other well-wishers including Rotary Clubs in the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany chipped in.

“We started with once off US$10 or 100 Rands from each of the 600 households.”

“The money saw us construct the roofing, but the initiative planted a seed that attracted the attention of our sons and daughters in foreign lands and other well-wishers,” Khumalo says.

The Rotary Clubs donated state of the art medical equipment to enable villagers to access specialist dentistry, maternity, laboratory and scans.

“Women would deliver on the road and some villagers would develop deadly complications after failing to access health care services,” Khumalo adds.

Maternal mortality has been a problem in Zimbabwe, especially in rural areas where there are no quality maternity health care services.

Maternal mortality is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy.

Before the health centre, pregnant women and new-born babies were threatened by strained health system and lack of services. Image by UNICEF

The major causes of maternal mortality include failure to access ante-natal services, a type of preventive health care whereby regular check-ups are provided to prevent potential health services throughout the course of pregnancy.

According to a Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) report released in September 2022, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was higher in rural areas (402 deaths per 100 000 live births) than in urban areas (298 per 100 000 live births).

In so many ways, Dube is just like every other villager in Ward 5 full of joy that for the first time since independence, they now have primary health care services at their doorstep.

Dingi Ndlovu, another villager from ward 5 says: “Our prayers too were finally answered. Without fear, our women will now give birth in safe hands.”

Another villager, Sibonokuhle Dliwayo says they no longer have to walk long distances to seek medical treatment.

“Even the slightest pain will now make me visit the clinic without hesitation, l am compensating for the gone days,” Dliwayo jokingly says.

The clinic was officially opened by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who also doubles as Health and Child Care minister.

According to Chiwenga, the villagers’ initiative feeds into the central government's drive to have citizens contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.

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“I am informed that the health centre we commissioned today is a product of the vision of the people of Gambu, Matjinje who embraced the mantra that ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo which is what our President Emmerson Mnangagwa always challenges us to do,” Chiwenga was quoted at the official opening ceremony.

Ward 5 councillor, Promise Masibi says the project has brought nothing but happiness to villagers.

Masibi says the clinic staffing comprises three nurses, and one Environmental Health Technician.

There is also one cottage which was built, courtesy of a local businessperson, Sakho Phunyuka Mabuza, adds Masibi.

“All thanks to Dabane Trust in ensuring there is a Borehole for clean water provision,” Masibi adds.

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