MARTIN MAWAYA
CHIWUNDURA-Deputy Health Minister and Chiwundura legislator Sleiman Kwidini has partnered with Discovery Ambulances to address healthcare disparities in marginalized communities, accelerating progress towards universal health coverage.
Launched under the Presidential Emergency Medical Outreach program, the collaboration targets remote areas within Chiwundura Constituency.
It aims to dismantle barriers to healthcare access that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
Core initiatives include integrated community-based care, vital first aid training, and mobile clinic deployments.
“This is a milestone moment for Chiwundura,” said MP Kwidini during a health expo at Percy Ntini Kushinga Secondary School in Ward 18 on Saturday.
“For the first time in our constituency, villagers have been examined, treated by doctors, and vaccinated free of charge. Even children from apostolic sects received care. This is health equity in action.”
Kwidini highlighted that newly resettled farmers in Ward 18 endure grueling 15km journeys to clinics like Hwahwa or Chikwingwizha in Shurugwi, a distance he condemned as violating international healthcare access standards.
He added that plans are underway to construct a local clinic, with monthly mobile services to supplement health care.
“The clinic project is prioritized in the national budget, Constituency Development Funds, and Vungu Rural District Council’s devolution funds,” Kwidini added.
The initiative aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy (NDS1), the Government National Health Strategy 2021-2025, Vision 2030’s “leave no one behind” principle, and constitutional health-access guarantees.
Discovery Ambulances chief executive officer David Munowenyu emphasized their mission to bridge gaps between provincial and district health services.
“We bring not just ambulances, but hope, knowledge, and access,” he stated, noting healthcare is “not government’s responsibility alone.”
Munowenyu applauded the government for enabling expertise to “plough back” into marginalized areas and urged national unity to strengthen domestic health services.
He also announced plans to roll out refresher courses and extend similar programs to other rural communities nationwide.
Local Councilor Nyaradzo Dapi hailed the expo as ‘a new chapter’ for the community.
For villager Varaidzo Marenje, who lives with hypertension and diabetes, the free treatment proved transformative.
“I pay tribute to our MP for this. I’ve never seen such a development since our resettlement in this area. This is positive for health care outcomes,” remarked Marenje.
The event saw several villagers receiving first aid certificates, empowering them to respond to emergencies, marking a significant step toward life-saving interventions for Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable citizens.
