VILLAGERS from Nswazi in Umzingwane District embarked on a programme meant
to mobilise funds to re-construct and convert their local clinic into a rural hospital.
Currently the health institution is 99 percent complete.
Through a $2 monthly contribution, each of the more than 7000 households in
Nswazi bought the required building material for the renovation of the health
institution.
This development will relieve villagers from walking over 25km to the nearest
hospital after they decided to play their part as a progressive community and built a
central health institution.
Umzingwane Ward 6 Councillor, Amanda Khumalo, confirmed the development
saying although they failed to meet their set deadline by one month, they are happy
that the rural hospital is now complete.
“Members of the community joined their hands and minds together in order to fulfill
this project that will go a long way in saving precious lives.
“We were supposed to have completed it in July but due to other unforeseen
challenges, we managed to complete it last month.
“The project is 99 percent complete, and once we finish the connection of septic
tank, it will be totally complete,” said Cllr Khumalo.
Works undertaken were the construction of two buildings, the waiting mothers’
shelter and wards.
“Our main objective is to turn Nswazi clinic into a rural hospital after the realisation of
its need.
“The project, which started three years ago is almost completed.
“We have built a mother’s waiting home, two wards and a shelter. If our dream
comes true, it will save a lot of lives that are usually lost due to transfers to either
Esigodini or the United Bulawayo hospitals,” said Cllr Khumalo.
The clinic which covers three wards namely Ward 6, 7 and 13 has a catchment area
of more than 10 000 people.
Unlike other rural clinics, Nswazi Clinic is one of those rural health institutions with a
modern ambulance.
“I think we are moving towards the right direction, considering that our clinic already
meets some of the standards required for a hospital.

“One of our children based in Diaspora donated a state-of-art ambulance with
international standards.
“We have already applied for the hospital status and now waiting for authorities to
come and inspect the civic works for approval,” she added.
“However, after finishing all the civic works we shall then apply for the hospital
status,” she said.