By Michael Gwarisa
There are hospitals, and then there are healing sanctuaries. The moment you walk into the newly refurbished wings of Avenues Clinic in Harare, a quiet calm settles over you. The space exudes class, care and compassion. The atmosphere is warm, the lighting gentle, and the décor feels less like a hospital and more like a high-end wellness retreat. Here, healing begins the moment you enter, long before any medicine is prescribed. The new look could quite literally heal even a broken heart.
In a tour of the revamped facility, Avenues Clinic General Manager, Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu, explained that the hospital has completed a full-scale facelift of its paediatric and private wards. The refurbishment, she said, is part of a larger effort by Medical Investments Limited (MIL) to transform the healthcare experience and improve clinical outcomes.
We have renovated our paediatric ward as well as our private ward. The paediatric ward has 16 beds and our private ward has 8 beds. In terms of the renovations, we have done most aesthetics from floors, walls, and the replacement of various items to give the space a fresh, modern look. That includes fresh linen and upgraded furniture,” said Mrs Ndhlovu.
The transformation has been made possible through significant shareholder support. Two years ago, MIL raised a total of US$5 million to modernise clinical equipment and refurbish major sections of the hospital. So far, US$2 million of that amount has been put to use, with US$1.2 million going toward acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and US$800,000 funding infrastructure upgrades including the revamped wards.
The technology acquired is world-class and aims to bolster the efficiency and precision of clinical procedures. “We’ve acquired four A9 anaesthetic machines, some of the most advanced in the world,” said Mrs Ndhlovu. “We also have the KUZA machine, which magnifies tissue up to a thousand times. This allows our surgeons to pinpoint and operate with unmatched precision.”
While many patients may assume new technology includes things like piped oxygen, Mrs Ndhlovu was quick to clarify that oxygen has always been piped across the hospital. The renovations have simply freshened the look and feel of spaces without disrupting essential systems. “We’ve now refurbished about half of our wards, including those on the first and second floors. The piping has always been there. What we have done is modernise the environment and improve the overall patient experience,” she said.
Beyond just infrastructure and technology, the Avenues Clinic continues to strengthen its partnerships with public health institutions in line with Zimbabwe’s health sector revitalisation efforts. One notable collaboration involved a video-assisted thoracic surgery performed jointly with Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals last year.
“That procedure was done in partnership with Parirenyatwa. Outside doctors came here, and some of our staff also went there. In another week or two, we will have a similar initiative through the Fountain of Hope for cardiac patients,” said Mrs Ndhlovu. “We provide specialist nurses and even support such clinics with logistics, including food supplies. We believe we can only grow together with the public health sector.”
Avenues Clinic is the flagship facility under Medical Investments Limited (MIL), a diversified healthcare investment company that has made significant strides in improving health services in Zimbabwe. Beyond Avenues Clinic, MIL also operates St Clements Clinic, Montagu Clinic, a retail pharmacy, and holds a significant stake in the Baines Imaging Group. These facilities work in tandem to provide an integrated continuum of care — from diagnostics and surgery to rehabilitation and retail pharmaceutical access.
In recent years, MIL has invested heavily in neonatal care, acquiring Giraffe incubators that have helped premature babies born as early as 24 to 26 weeks survive and thrive. MIL has also introduced laparoscopic towers in its surgical theatres, enabling minimally invasive procedures and faster patient recovery. Emergency care has been improved through the introduction of mobile ventilators and fully equipped drug rooms, ensuring rapid response to trauma and critical cases.
At a recent appreciation cocktail hosted by the Clinic, Medical Director Professor Godfrey Ignatius Muguti commended these investments, stating that they had a direct impact on patient outcomes and staff morale.
“As a hospital, we continue to invest in cutting-edge medical equipment to enhance patient care, experience, and outcomes,” he said. “Our laparoscopic towers, KUZA machines and neonatal incubators are just a few of the many tools that make a real difference in our work.”
Mrs Ndhlovu also addressed the issue of cost and access in private healthcare, stating that while private facilities often attract higher costs due to the quality of services and staffing, Avenues Clinic offers value for money.
“We believe our pricing is commensurate with the value we provide. We have specialised nurses and top-tier medical personnel. You have seen the facilities. All of this requires a certain level of funding. I wouldn’t describe us as expensive or cheap, but what we offer is certainly competitive,” she said.
In a country where healthcare infrastructure often struggles to meet demand, Avenues Clinic is carving out a space where innovation, compassion and collaboration meet. The renovated wards are not just an upgrade — they are a symbol of what is possible when investment meets intention, and when healing is approached holistically.
