STEWARD Bank has unveiled a $100 million private sector healthcare fund meant for retooling and capacitation of medical industry.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
Addressing medical professionals at the official opening of this year’s edition of Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA), Steward bank chief executive officer, Dr Lance Mambondiani said in light of the obtaining prevailing healthcare situation in Zimbabwe, they have set aside $100 million to improve the sector.
“What are we putting on the table? One of the things that we thought we should do to show you our commitment, to show you how serious we are about in conclusion is to tell you that as Econet Group, as Steward Bank we want to put on the table a $100 million facility you can access right now as you walk out of the auditorium.
“There is a Steward team to start taking whatever you require to make sure we are holding hands together,” he said.
He also said that they want to assist medical practitioners in retooling their businesses.
“Some of the areas that we thought we would assist you is firstly what we call retooling. If you would like to acquire some equipment for retooling your facility as a group we are available to do so,” said Dr Mambondiani.
Dr Mambondiani also said the facility will fill in the gap of shortage of medication.
“We are providing the medication that is required. We are providing the equipment that is required by you. As medical practitioners to provide that expert care, expert services that is required by your father, your mother, by your children, by every Zimbabwean….So, we would like to assist you as an organization or individually to help you in retooling,” he added.
He added that they will be giving mortgages and capital.
“We would like to assist you firstly in mortgages that help you in building world class facilities, facilities that we would be proud of. We would like to make sure that we assist you in providing working capital, for we know it’s a problem to have working capital that allows you to run your own practice. We are hoping we would be holding each other’s hand to build the Zimbabwe we want. Importation of drugs and again many things we know we require as a group,” said Dr Mambondiani.
Health and Childcare Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa commended Steward bank for coming up with such a facility but argued that it should also be accessible for the public health sector.
