Relief for villagers in Umzingwane Ward 4 as area commissions Ndabankulu clinic

Janet Sibanda (58) from Msetshane Village in Matobo, Matabeleland South recalls walking a total of 50km to and from Homestead Clinic, which was the nearest health facility then, a journey she described as  traumatic but necessary.

Villagers from her area and surrounding Silawa, Ndabankulu and Zwehamba had just one clinic forcing them to travel long distances in search of  healthcare services.

For more than three decades they longed for a nearer facility which would ease the burden they had in accessing medical attention.

Thanks to  Word Vision, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the local authority, Sibanda will now walk just five kilometres to the newly commissioned Ndabankulu Clinic, a development which has brought relief to hundreds of Matobo villagers.

“We are happy that finally we have a clinic nearer to our homes because walking all those kilometres was stressful and sometimes we would prefer to stay at home and risk medical complications. We are grateful because even our elderly who suffer from a number of ailments will be able to access healthcare without any challenges like in the past,” said Sibanda.

Another villager Soneni Mlotshwa said the clinic was a dream come true for villagers who often struggle with poor road infrastructure  whenever they are expected to travel to Bulawayo for medical attention.

“This place is still very remote. We cannot even access mobile networks or use phones when in emergencies but now that we have a clinic, I am sure lives will be saved. We used to struggle walking to Homestead Clinic and the distance forced some of us to snub ante-natal care which is crucial for all expecting mothers,” she said.

Mlotshwa added that the clinic will bring closer essential services like immunisation programs and help the community access Covid-19 information.

“We often missed out on important programs as the distance to the nearest health facility was a deterrent but now we will also benefit like other villagers,” she  said.

For Jecobed Ncube, the clinic was just one of the major developmental projects the community needed as they still cannot access mobile networks.

“We are happy the quality of our lives will change and we now appeal for responsible authorities to ensure we have access to mobile coverage so that we can use phones and be in touch with our world. Members of staff in this clinic will need to contact other health facilities in cases of emergency and network challenges will slow down our progress in ensuring that we have access to quality health care services,” said Ncube.