By Staff Reporter
Gutu Residents will soon have access to a private and modern health facility in Mupandawana, marking a significant milestone in the area’s healthcare development and providing an alternative to public healthcare options.
The new facility, Utano Medical Centre, will open doors on Monday June 9 and on the day, the medical centre will offer free consultation, BP and Blood Sugar checks as well as medical examinations.
The medical center is run by Dr. Mutero Mupereki, a health practitioner and Gutu District Medical Officer (DMO), and is expected to provide quality healthcare services to the community.
Speaking to TellZim News, Dr Mupereki said the center will offer a comprehensive range of essential services, including doctor consultations, reproductive health services, HIV testing and treatment, TB screening, medical laboratory services, X-rays, scans, pharmacy services, and dental care.
“We will be offering reproductive health, family planning, HIV testing and treatment services. TB screening is going to be offered and at the same time we are also going to provide medical laboratory services since we do not have any private medical laboratory in the district.
“The only one we have is at Gutu Mission Hospital which is often overwhelmed forcing people to travel to Masvingo and Chivhu at times carrying own samples putting pressure on the community,” said Dr Mupereki.
He said the services will be provided by a team of experienced healthcare professionals, ensuring that patients receive the best possible care.
Dr Mutero said the facility was a one stop medical centre where a variety of services will be offered to relieve pressure on patients who often had to get consultation somewhere then go elsewhere to get medication.
He said the centre had dental services as well as a pharmacy and will launch an ambulance service in the near future.
“We will be offering pharmacy services, yes there are two private pharmacy services, however these pharmacies are not part of any health facility or institution so our clients are taking prescriptions from private surgeries and then they have to move again to get to private pharmacies so our medical center is going to be one stop shop where the client does not have to do a lot of movement as they will get their services there.
“We are also going to have a dental unit. This is a major break through our community , has been crying for this service in Gutu since there are no dental services both in the public and private sector,” said Dr Mupereki.
He said the center was established to complement government’s efforts in providing quality healthcare saying the public healthcare system in Gutu was overstretched. This was leading to frequent downtime of critical equipment and limited availability of essential services and the new center will help bridge the gap.
Dr Mupereki said the center’s location in an industrial area was strategic, providing a peaceful and quiet environment conducive to healing and was open for people from all walks of life including the elite who desire quality services.
He said the centre will also create employment opportunities for healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, lab personnel, pharmacists, and radiographers. This initiative will contribute to the development of the local economy and support the government’s vision of creating a middle to upper-middle-class economy by 2030.
