The country’s biggest platinum group metals (PGM) producer Zimplats has been commended for building a modern pre and post-natal care facility worth over US$230 000 at Gweshe Clinic in Muzvezve constituency, Mhondoro Ngezi District in Mashonaland West as the company seeks to make life easy for expecting mothers in the area.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The facility which comprises of a maternity ward, a waiting mother’s shelter, spacious staff accommodation for two families, and a cooking area has a maternity ward and the mother’s waiting home fitted with state-of-the-art beds and linen which has been received joyously by the community.
Speaking to Mining Zimbabwe, Mhondoro Ngezi Rural District Council Chairperson Ephraim Chengeta said Zimplats has been at the forefront in improving the quality of health care in the District.
He said people in Mhondoro Ngezi were going to benefit significantly from the establishment of the health facility by Zimplats.
“We are grateful to Zimplats, they have been helping us in many projects including the building of the facilities that you see here. As the people of Mhondoro Ngezi district, we are thankful for what they have been doing to us through their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy,” Councilor Chengeta said.
Gweshe clinic Sister in Charge Agnes Madzamba said the project has enhanced health care services for communities around the clinic, increased the clinic’s capacity to serve the community and improved the overall health care experience for both patients and medical staff.
“This has made it easy for people in the Muzvezve constituency. We thank Zimplats for the equipment that they gave us. We received beds for pre and post-natal, delivery beds and blankets. We are grateful for this gesture by Zimplats by bringing a state-of-the-art maternity clinic to this constituency,” Sister Madzamba said.
Enoch Majinga a community health worker in the District said the gesture would lead to health benefits for the people of Mhondoro Ngezi especially pregnant women who were going to Kadoma for maternity and some would end up giving birth at home.
Majinga said Gweshe Clinic used to have one block and two staff quarters, which were insufficient to cater for the needs of neighbouring communities. Due to these constraints, most patients preferred to seek treatment in Kadoma, while it was uncommon for expecting mothers to give birth at home, putting their lives and that of their babies at risk since home births are associated with a higher risk of infant death, seizures and nervous system disorders than hospital births.
“Zimplats has done amazing things for us, it is now easy for women and pregnant women to receive medication. It is going to cut costs to go to Kadoma and we are going to reduce a situation where pregnant women give birth at home,” he said.