Gaths Mine Hospital turned into provincial isolation centre

Masvingo, New Ziana –The government has started renovating the hospital at the defunct Gaths Mine in Mashava, about 40 kilometres west of Masvingo city, with a view to turn it into the main COVID-19 isolation centre in the province, a senior government official has said.

Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira said the isolation centre would have a capacity of between 300 and 400 beds when completed by next week, together with all other isolation centres being established in the province’s seven districts.

“In the province we have identified our provincial centre which is Gaths Mine hospital which is able to accommodate 300 to 400 patients when it is fully equipped,” he said.

Chadzamira was speaking at his offices as he received 2 000 food hampers from the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) for distribution to vulnerable groups during the nationwide lockdown and two ambulances from TransCare Emergency Ambulances, a local company owned by Deputy Public Service and Social Welfare Minister Lovemore Matuke.

He said by the end of next week, all the isolation centres including the provincial centre were expected to be complete and ready for use.

“We wanted a centre that could accommodate many people and has an ICU facility at the same place and we found that which used to be a general hospital for Shabanie-Mashaba Mine. The hospital is able to accommodate 300 to 400 people” he said.

“There is an infrastructure in place that used to be used as an ICU and does not need much renovation. We gave each other timelines that by the end of next week all isolation centres in the province including the provincial centre be complete.”

Matuke said his company was devoting two of its ambulances to offer services in the fight against Corona virus easing the lack of such vehicles in transporting patients and suspected patients of Corona virus in the province.

He said the ambulance would be available 24 hours to transport suspected and confirmed COVID 19 cases in the province.
New Ziana