Staff Reporter

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, has pledged to increase the intake of student nurses, at Chivhu General Hospital, as part of a broader initiative to boost health services in the area.

Currently, the hospital recruits only 10 students per intake, but this is set to change by September 2025.

During an impromptu visit to Chivhu General Hospital yesterday, Dr Mombeshora said, “We are working to ensure that the nursing school here is fully capacitated to accommodate a much larger number of students. By September we want this facility to be recruiting more than the current 10. This is essential for improving service delivery in this growing community.”

In response to the pressing issue of limited bed space at the hospital, Dr Mombeshora announced the establishment of a new 22-bed mini-hospital in Manhize.

The facility, once operational, will primarily serve employees at the Dinson Iron and Steel Company but is also expected to reduce pressure on Chivhu General Hospital.

“We are opening a new 22-bed mini-hospital at Manhize very soon. This will decongest Chivhu General Hospital and help improve access and the quality of care, particularly for the growing population linked to the Dinson mine project,” Dr Mombeshora said.

Dr Mombeshora further revealed plans to strengthen Chivhu General Hospital’s capacity to respond to emergencies, particularly road traffic accidents.

The hospital serves as a key health centre along three major highways: Harare-Beitbridge, Chivhu-Gutu, and Chivhu-Murambinda, where accidents are frequent.

“We understand the strategic location of this hospital and the challenges it faces. The Ministry of Health and Child Care will soon deploy more personnel and provide additional equipment. This will enable Chivhu General Hospital to manage road traffic accident cases more efficiently,” he said.

Minister Mombeshora said Government was committed to building a resilient health system that serves all Zimbabweans.

“We are not only investing in infrastructure but also in people, training more nurses, deploying specialists, and ensuring each health facility is properly equipped,” he said. “That is the path toward universal health coverage,” he said.

The latest interventions are part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to decentralise healthcare delivery and strengthen the capacity of district hospitals.