Midlands hospitals receive utility service vehicles

GWERU –The government has commissioned utility service vehicles for district hospitals in the
Midlands province as part of ongoing efforts to enhance access to health care in communities.

The new vehicles, commissioned on Monday, will complement the existing fleet by ensuring that
medical personnel are able to reach remote areas at ease, thereby guaranteeing quality services for
the citizenry in line with the government's inclusive development agenda.

Acting Midlands Provincial Medical Director, Dr Reginald Mhene said, "We are very grateful to the
government for coming through with such help. We used to face problems, particularly in ferrying
drugs to some remote areas and other essentials. With each district receiving such a vehicle, our
problems are certainly now a thing of the past.

The government is prioritising closing gaps within the health sector to ensure quality health care.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube said: The arrival of
these utility vehicles is a moment of celebration and affirmation of the Second Republic’s pro-people
transformative agenda.

“The vehicles will significantly improve timely health care delivery to our communities in line with
the government’s commitment to ensure health for all by 2025 and President Emmerson
Mnangagwa’s thrust of achieving an upper middle-income society earlier than 2030.

Minister Ncube said the utility vehicles will enable the Health Ministry to streamline the ordering
and distribution of medicines, minimise delays to guarantee steady supplies of essential medicines
regardless of location “ensuring no one and no place is left behind”.

He hailed the government collaboration and partnership with international organisations like the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which are helping government to achieve national
development priorities.

The Minister also paid tribute to health personnel who are working around the clock to treat all
cholera patients in the province as well as applying control and prevention measures.
The Second Republic is on a spirited drive to reduce the distance one travels to access health
services by ensuring there is a functional health facility within every five-kilometre radius.