HARARE Central Hospital needs constant capacity building in the areas of infrastructure development to strengthen its ability to withstand diseases outbreaks, Health and Child Care minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa has said.
By Michael Gwarisa
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the Handover Ceremony of ventilation and air conditioning equipment to the Harare Hospital Paediatric division, Minitser Parirenyatwa said the centre (Harare Hospital) was the biggest health institution in the country hence the need for maximum capacity enhancement support.
“As you have realised that one of the areas that needs a lot of support is the paediatric division where we are right now. This equipment will go a long way in improving patient care in terms of children particularly ventilation and infusion and when we had Bronchiolitis, we had a problem in some of the equipment that we needed.
“Remember we had almost an outbreak of an epidemic here Brochilitis and could have gone a long. Harare Hospital caters for a very huge catchment area and it has been said that Harare Hospital is the largest this support will strengthen capacity of our staff,” said Dr Parirenyatwa.
He added that government is working tirelessly to decentralise hospital services so as to improve capacity of poly clinics into handling work equivalent to that of district Hospitals as is the case with Mabvuku hospital which is now handles even surgical services.
Australasian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, her excellency Bronte Moules says her government’s support to Zimbabwe has greatly pediatric health services Harare Hospital.
“This equipment is to do with respiration and injections particularly for new borns and neo natal care. So it is very important and with high tech equipment which we believe will save live lives in terms of health child care.
“We have made a few donations over the last five year or so. Working very closely to the hospital just in response to high priority needs and things that are of great need . We providing funding for refurbishment for some of the facilities and some chairs so that mothers who stay longer could get comfortable,”
The Australian government has provide d over $200 000 in support to Harare hospital’s paediatric division which has boosted its capacity to reduce both maternal and infant mortality.
Support from Australia has also seen Zimbabwe increase its number of paediatric nurses in the country through its Paediatric nurses training. Before the training started there were only two paediatric nurses in Zimbabwe, one in Harare and one Bulawayo but the number has since increased to 70 trained nurses countrywide.
