Rutendo Chirume

The construction of Chebvure Clinic in Ward 29 of Bikita district will improve access to primary health care by substantially reducing travelling distance for hundreds of villagers, it has been learnt.

The clinic is being built in a community where residents currently travel up to 12km to the nearest rural health centre.

Authorities told EnviroPress that Chebvure Clinic will benefit people in at least four wards thereby improving access to primary health care.

Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC) Bernard Hadzirabwi (pictured) told EnviroPress that the official opening of the clinic was expected to be done before the end of April this year.

“We expect to complete all remaining works soon to make the clinic ready to serve the people. Council has taken delivery of all the required equipment for transportation to the site,” said Hadzirabwi.

He said the clinic was going to serve hundreds of people per year in a community which requires even more of such services.

Hadzirabwi said the district had many more well-articulated developmental plans in the field of health but lack of funding was delaying their implementation.

“We have several other projects that we have planned to carry out in our district but we currently do not have ready funding for those projects. We are working on our budgets, and we are confident that progress will be made by midyear,” he said.

Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) Chairperson, Thomas Mataga said Chebvure Clinic had a maternity ward to serve women in four wards.

“Villagers in wards 29, 26, 27 and 28 will finally have a clinic closer by, and this means they will travel shorter distances to the clinic. We expect that all things will be in place by the end of April.

“Since health provision is a challenge here in Bikita district, we are pleased with the progress that is being made,” said Mataga.