Devolution Funds, a vehicle for Healthcare delivery

Devolution Funds, a vehicle for Healthcare delivery

 

Brian Rungano Temba

 

 

Residents of Ward 9 in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East are celebrating the imminent completion of their very first local clinic which is now at 90 per cent completion, thanks to Devolution funds.

 

 

When complete, Nyamhondoro Clinic will bring relief to the community which used to walk more than 10 kilometers to the closest health centre. With a fully functional maternity wing, Nyamhondoro Clinic is expected to contribute immensely to the reduction of infant mortality as management of pregnancies will be done locally without the hustle of travelling long distances.

 

 

Pregnant mothers used to travel for 15 kilometres to Chimukoko Clinic or to Masarakufa Clinic which is the closest at 10 kilometres. Such was the risk that it compromised safety of expecting mothers who’s only source of hope was the Grace of God as most would be forced into home delivery, a practice associated with high infant mortality as no post natal care is available.

 

 

This development gives credence to government’s mantra of ‘leaving no one and no place behind’ as the Second Republic focuses on inclusive development as reflected in the development blueprint National Development Strategy Phase 1 (NDS1) which stipulates that health service facilities should be within a 3km radius of all communities.

 

 

According to the secretary of the Clinic Committee; Ms Martha Ndavaka, the building of the clinic started way back in 2015 as a community initiative up to ring beam stage.

 

 

“Construction stalled owing to shortage of funds only for the project to be rescued along the way by Devolution funds from Government. Devolution funds have enabled the roofing and plastering, tiling, plumbing as well as completion of outstanding works. Currently builders are on site building one staff house with the other almost complete,” said Ms Ndavaka.

 

 

Mudzi joins the rest of the nation as it becomes yet another beneficiary of Devolution Initiative whose funds are released from Central Government towards locally identified developmental projects.

 

 

While many Greenfield projects have been initiated under the initiative, Devolution Funds have been responsible for rescuing a number of incomplete projects countrywide which would have been started and left midway during the first republic, and Nyamhondoro Clinic is one such.