By Patience Gondo
Beitbridge district authorities will begin addressing some health sector challenges at local level before escalating them to central government.
The call was made during a district development meeting held on Tuesday, which brought together heads of government ministries and agencies to review development progress and challenges affecting the district.
Permanent Secretary for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Nditwani Muleya said some challenges affecting service delivery can be resolved through local coordination and initiative.
Muleya said district institutions should first identify problems and explore local solutions instead of always waiting for external assistance.
She cited the shortage of accommodation for nurses as an example, saying local authorities can begin by securing land for staff housing before approaching government or development partners for further support.
According to Muleya, collaboration between the Beitbridge Rural District Council, the District Development Coordinator and the District Medical Office can help initiate practical solutions to some of the challenges facing the health sector.
District Medical Officer Linos Samhere said lack of staff accommodation remains one of the issues affecting health service delivery at Beitbridge General Hospital.
Samhere said some nurses have been transferring to other hospitals due to accommodation challenges.
He said the hospital, which was constructed in the 1980s and commissioned in 1991, is also facing infrastructure limitations as demand for services continues to grow.
Muleya also spoke of the importance of transparency in the management of public funds, saying financial resources allocated to sectors such as health should be openly accounted for.
She said government departments should develop clear master plans outlining development priorities and infrastructure needs, saying planning is essential to achieving Vision 2030.
Muleya said non-governmental organisations working in the health sector should coordinate their activities with the DMO to ensure their support aligns with the district’s priorities.
Beitbridge district currently has nine officially recognised rural clinics operated by registered general nurses, while additional facilities including Tshabili, Dumba and Mazunga bring the total number of clinics in the district to 18.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South Albert Nguluvhe also encouraged stakeholders in the district to work together to drive development.
Chairperson of the Beitbridge Rural District Council, Oscar Chiromo, said the council would prioritise cooperation with government departments to implement solutions discussed during the meeting.