Matabeleland North Medical Director Dr Purgie Chimberengwa has called on the government to look at prospects of availing a Provincial Hospital in the province to reduce the number of referrals to other provinces.
Dr Chimberengwa said this during a stakeholders six year (2012-2017) assessment of impact and feedback meeting on Mass Drug Administration for Schistosomiasis and soil transmitted Helninthiasis in Victoria Falls today.
In his address, Dr Chimberengwa highlighted that the province has a lot of water sources, making it ideal for expansion.
“I think it is evident to everyone of us here that the province needs a provincial health centre. This in my view will reduce referrals patients to other provinces which will be having their own problems similar to ours. It is therefore imperative for the government to look at this from that angle,” said Dr Chimberengwa.
Director of Epidimeology Disease Control, Dr Portia Manangazira also weighed in and stressed the need for a provincial health centre in the province.
“A Provincial hospital is essential in the province as we move to attain Universal Health coverage by 2030. We need more health promoting centres,” Manangazira said.
She added, The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has up to 9000 schools, so If we use these as health promoting centres, we will get the universal coverage.
“More health centres means we will reach everyone even those in so called hard to reach areas in an effort to try and fight these Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).”
People living in these areas are forced to travel long distances to access health services such as operations and other specialist services, the reason being that there are few health centers surrounding their areas of residence., with people in Hwange having to travel all the way to Victoria Falls for them to access district hospital services.
