The Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, recently toured Cowdray Park Mini-Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), Mpilo, and Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
During his visit, Minister Mombeshora engaged with medical staff, hospital administrators, and patients to gain firsthand insights into the operational challenges and successes of these key facilities.
The tour aimed to assess the current state of healthcare delivery and identify areas for immediate improvement and strategic investment.
The first stop was Ingutsheni Central Hospital, where Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who accompanied the Minister, highlighted the urgent need for the hospital’s rehabilitation. Said Mohadi:
“What pleased me at this institution is that you have no problems with the drugs.
“Your medicines side of things is good. However, your institution is quite old. In 1908, I don’t think there was any of us here when it was built.
“So the systems and the materials that were used definitely tire or they get old and the substances that were used then were different.
“So I have come here to witness for myself what is obtaining here. We will try to get some funding so that we can work on the rehabilitation side of this place.”
After visiting Ingutsheni Hospital, Minister Mombeshora went to Mpilo Hospital, where he discussed the hospital’s role in research and its potential as a centre for advanced medical care.
He stressed the need for good working conditions and ongoing improvements to hospital infrastructure.
He then visited Cowdray Park Mini-Hospital, a community clinic serving a growing population. There, he looked at the clinic’s ability to provide primary healthcare, including maternal and child services, and the availability of essential medicines.
He praised the staff for their dedication despite limited resources, highlighting the importance of accessible local healthcare.
The Minister’s final stop was United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), a major referral centre. He reviewed specialized services, surgical facilities, and key equipment, emphasising the need for strong infrastructure and a skilled workforce to handle complex cases.
He also noted challenges such as the emigration of healthcare workers and reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing these issues. He said:
“I just want to see and appreciate the challenges that are in our Hospitals.
“At least one of the most important thing that i have seen today is that our drug stock levels have gone up and on average we are hovering between 60 and 70 percent which is good, its not the best ideally we should be 100 percent.
“I say it’s good because where we are coming from, last year we ended at around 49 , so we are currently going in the right direction.
“Was also looking at the structures where we see areas where we need renovations or upgrading.
“Also, I am looking at the issue of equipment because some of the equipment that is in our in our institutions are quite old.
“I am also interested in seeing what is in our Central Hospitals because the are teaching Hospitals and we want to make sure that the products that come out of our trading institutions have been exposed to better equipment and they know how to use it.”
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