Bikita Minerals and China’s 21st Medical Team Bring Free Healthcare to Hundreds in Zimbabwe
Over 950 Bikita Minerals employees, their immediate families and the surrounding community benefited from free medical services rolled out by the 21st China medical team.
The free clinic provided free diagnosis and treatment services for employees and local community residents in internal medicine, cardiology, general surgery, neurology, urology, neonatology, traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture), radiology, and basic health care.
The initiative is part of Bikita Mineral’s corporate social responsibility and adds to several other community development initiatives the lithium giant is undertaking.
Besides creating employment, Bikita Minerals constructed the 112km-132KVA powerline, 12MW solar plant, rehabilitated roads, drilled boreholes, constructed schools and clinics.
Addressing employees and community leaders, Bikita Minerals Chief Engineer Jang Rongfu said management would continue to invest in health and wellness programmes at the workplace as the employee is an important pillar.
“At Bikita Minerals nothing is more important than the safety, health and well-being of our workforce. We believe that everyone has the right to quality medical care and that every employee should go home safe, healthy and unharmed, every single day”
“The free medical services conducted by the 21st Chinese medical team is a clear testament of how we value the health and well-being of employees”, said Rongfu. Zimbabwe
Captain of the 21st China medical team to Zimbabwe Jianlong Tan said his team is committed to saving lives and healing the wounded.
“We will continue to actively assist in the provision of health services to Bikita and we are grateful to the support we got from management, employees and the community”, said Tan.
Coster Sosera, Zimbabwe Advanced Mine Workers Union Vice Chairman of Bikita Minerals branch and one of the beneficiaries of the free medical outreach program was very excited and full of joy.
“I have suffered from leg pain for the last three years. I thank the Chinese medical team and Bikita Minerals management for extending free treatment to the community. I thank them for thinking about us. I trust that we shall heal. There are some people with different ailments and this outreach program has healed many employees and their families,” he said
Bikita Minerals is committed to serving and improving the healthcare delivery system in the country. This month the mine finished constructing a new clinic with a spacious casualty, observation, dressing, and doctor’s rooms. The facility also has a female, male and labour admission wards. It will serve employees and the surrounding community.