Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Reporter
FOR years, the journey to healthcare was a painful ordeal for Gogo Annah Ndlovu.
Hypertensive and battling arthritis, the elderly woman would rise long before dawn and set off on a gruelling 10-kilometre walk from Maritsikwana Village in Bulilima District to Sikhathini Clinic — all in the hope of securing a place in the long queues.
Often, by the time she was attended to, the sun would already be dipping low in the sky.
“I would be treated late in the afternoon and then walk all the way back home. During the rainy season, it was worse,” she recalls.
“Sometimes I had to beg for a place to sleep because crossing two rivers at night was dangerous.”
Yesterday, that chapter of suffering finally closed.
Gogo Ndlovu was among hundreds of jubilant villagers who watched Vice-President Kembo Mohadi officially commission Nyabane Clinic — a modern health facility now standing just a stone’s throw from her home.
“Kambe yithi shuwa, kungathi siyaphupha,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I cannot believe my eyes. It feels like a dream.”
For Nyabane villagers, access to healthcare had long been a matter of life and death. Sikhathini Clinic served several surrounding communities, including Diba, Gwambe, Mlomwe and Tjangwa, forcing patients to endure long journeys and overwhelming congestion.
“We lost relatives along the way to Sikhathini Clinic or Plumtree District Hospital because of the distance. Health has always been our biggest challenge,” said Gogo Ndlovu.
Ironically, when construction of the clinic began six years ago, Gogo Ndlovu — despite her frail health — was among villagers who volunteered their labour.
“There were many challenges. Sometimes I thought I would die before seeing this clinic finished,” she said.
Yesterday, for the first time since she was diagnosed with high blood pressure, she had her BP checked and received medication at Nyabane Clinic.
Her relief reflects that of hundreds of villagers whose sweat, sacrifice and perseverance have finally borne fruit.
The clinic was built through a partnership between the Nyabane community, Bulilima Rural District Council and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which contributed about US$300 000 towards the project.
Commissioning the facility, Vice-President Mohadi commended the unity and determination shown by the community.
“We are gathered here to celebrate a momentous occasion, the commissioning of Nyabane Clinic. It is with great pride and deep gratitude that I stand before you as we avail a facility that symbolises hope, health and the power of community,” he said.
The Vice-President applauded villagers for mobilising resources, sourcing local materials and working together to realise the project.
“Your commitment to improving the well-being of this community is inspiring and demonstrates the strength of collective action,” he said.
VP Mohadi also commended Nyabane locals living in the diaspora for contributing financially towards the project.
“Your efforts remind us that no matter where we go — east, west, north or south — home remains best,” he said.
VP Mohadi further lauded Bulilima RDC for ensuring the clinic was constructed in line with regulations and standards, and expressed gratitude to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its support.
“This partnership shows the impact of collaboration in achieving shared goals. Nyabane Clinic is not just a building; it is a sanctuary where lives will be saved, nurtured and futures built,” he said.
“I am reliably informed that the church of the Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints generously supported the project with approximately US$300 000 to complete this clinic. I am incredibly grateful for this kind of gesture.”
The Vice-President said Nyabane Clinic will serve as a beacon of hope for the local community, providing essential primary health care services and ensuring that every individual has access to the healthcare they deserve.
Church leader Vusimuzi Msiza said the funds were raised through donations from church members, with a focus on improving maternal and child health.
“As a church, we prioritised access to quality healthcare for women and children to reduce infant and maternal mortality,” he said.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe hailed the unity among stakeholders and called for similar partnerships to address healthcare gaps in the province.
Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, who is also Zanu-PF Matabeleland South provincial chairperson, welcomed the inclusion of maternity services at the clinic, saying they would help address the province’s declining population.
“The last three census results show Matabeleland South as the slowest-growing province. Access to maternity services is critical in nation-building,” he said. — @themkhust
The post Nyabane’s long walk to healthcare ends as Vice President Mohadi commissions new clinic appeared first on herald.
The post Nyabane’s long walk to healthcare ends as Vice President Mohadi commissions new clinic appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.