ZACH receives four ambulances to boost health service delivery in Manicaland province
Harare – Four new and fully equipped ambulances, donated to the Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH) with funding from World Bank in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), under the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP) are a vital boost to the Government’s efforts to increase access to health care services for its most vulnerable populations, especially women and children.
“In the health sector, the capacity to transfer patients swiftly and safely is a key priority. We are therefore happy to complement Government efforts to restore and improve health services by reinforcing the capacity of the mission hospitals’ referral network,” said Marjorie Mpundu, World Bank Country Manager.
In response to the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai, these ambulances have been deployed to increase access to key underutilized services that are recognized as having the capacity to save the lives of people
In March 2019, the unprecedented Cyclone Idai hit Zimbabwe, leaving behind a trail of disaster directly affecting 270 000 people including 60 000 forced out of their homes and farmlands.
UNOPS Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Sheila Omom said they recognize the impact of Cyclone Idai mostly in Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands, and these ambulances will go a long way in serving the lives of people in the hard-to-reach areas.
St Peters, Mt Selinda, Mutambara, and Rusitu mission hospitals from Chimanimani and Chipinge districts benefited from the donation to facilitate them to provide the first line of treatment to critical patients, hence saving lives.
Receiving the ambulances, ZACH executive director, Mrs. Vuyelwa Chitimbire said the ambulances will help to strengthen the health system to provide the highest quality of care and empower communities to utilize health services appropriately.
“The donation of the ambulances will help address patient transfer challenges, especially maternity transfers, and other related emergencies to reduce preventable and premature deaths. ZACH will ensure that the ambulances will be utilized to full capacity,” said Mrs. Chitimbire.
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