Zimbabwe’s decade long economic crisis has crippled the health sector with most rural health centres struggling to provide quality services to the people. However Rimbi Community in Chipinge got some reprieve late last month on 26 June, 2014. This was after receiving a state of the art ambulance from a donor organization, Concentric through the local and Diaspora based Tekeshe Foundation, a Rimbi community development project.
The ambulance, sourced by Thelma Sithole of Tekeshe Foundation will alleviate health problems previously faced by Rimbi clinic.Receiving the ambulance, sister in charge at Rimbi clinic, Enia Makonyere expressed her gratitude to Tekeshe foundation for their generous work that has in the past resulted in the local clinic receiving drugs and other necessities.
“Working at a rural clinic like Rimbi would have been a challenge but now we are part of the privileged clinics that has an ambulance and a caring and responsible community leadership” she said.
The chairperson of the Rimbi Clinic Ambulance committee Mr. Caleb Sithole challenged the community at large to improve in terms of their cooperation during service provision. “The ambulance needs fuel and other services which as a community we need to design methods and mechanisms to take responsibility which might need some cash donations”He reiterated that this would need to be worked on since some villagers would always evade responsibility by over depending even when they need services.
Rumbidzai Maoneke, a Rimbi villager could not hide her excitement for the donated ambulance saying many pregnant women had endured horrible moments after facing complications during delivery.“This ambulance is indeed a life saver because critical patients will now be rushed to hospitals without delays,” Maoneke said.She appealed for Rimbi people to be responsible and make sure the ambulance is maintained.
“As a community, we need to be responsible and make sure this ambulance is well maintained so that it can continue to serve its purpose,” she added.Rev Ephraim Ngadziore of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) who was the guest of honor at the event promised community support to improve the health system of the country.
By Artwell Sithole and Joseph Moyana
