MARTIN MAWAYA
The Midlands provincial affairs minister Owen Ncube has donated food hampers worth $35,000 to eight district hospitals in the Midlands province.
The goods, which include basic necessities such as mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar, and soap, were distributed to health facilities across the province.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ncube said the donations align with the government’s commitment to supporting the disadvantaged members of the community, including orphanages, old people’s homes, the elderly, prisons, and health institutions.
He applauded the Midlands community for their “enormous support” during the Independence Ball dance dinner held in April, which raised the $35,000 for charity.
The minister noted that the charity support is part of the government’s broader social protection programs and its efforts to transform healthcare service delivery, which is a fundamental pillar of the National Development Strategy 1.
Ncube highlighted several ongoing projects, including the establishment of nursing schools, the construction of modern mini-hospitals, and the procurement of state-of-the-art medical equipment for rural clinics and hospitals.
Receiving the donations, Provincial Medical Director Dr. Mary Muchekeza commended the government for recognizing the needs of rural hospitals and facilitating resources for the health sector.
She said the donation “will significantly impact healthcare service delivery and help address some of the pressing needs of the hospitals”.
Some of the health facilities that benefited include Kana, Driefontein, Mnene and Zhombe Mission Hospitals as well as Zvamavande and Chikwingwizha clinics.
