Ophid personnel and Chiredzi Hospital Staff pose for a photo behind the new building
Anesushe Mamhute
CHIREDZI – The Organisation for Public Health Interventions and Development (Ophid) recently handed over a pre-fabricated building worth US$30 000 to the Family and Child Health (FCH) unit at Chiredzi Hospital.
The FCH offers a range of services including Antenatal and Postnatal Care Services, HIV counselling and testing, screening of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Antiretroviral Therapy.
The new pre-fabricated building addresses structural deterioration and congestion at the previous Family and Child Health unit, which had two small rooms for the provision of family and child health services, making it uncomfortable for clients.
The unit is a result of collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Face HIV consortium partners Ophid and the J.F Kapnek Trust; with funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) and the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID).
Speaking during the handover ceremony at Chiredzi Hospital, Families and Communities for the Elimination of HIV (Face HIV) consortium chief of party Patricia Mbetu encouraged the Chiredzi community to embrace the family-centred approach to health care.
“We acted upon the request to ensure men, women and children receive a package of services under one roof and avoid missing out any opportunity on comprehensive health,” Mbetu.
The newly installed structure comprises of five spacious rooms to provide confidential and private health care services.
Chiredzi Hospital medical superintendent, Dr David Tarumbwa also encouraged the participation of men in the fight against HIV-related infections.
“HIV is real and we need to examine both parties before child birth so that we avoid unpleasant situations where a child is born infected,” said Dr Tarumbwa.
Chiredzi is the first district in Masvingo to complete the installation of the prefabricated units that are meant to address space shortages.
The Face HIV has also done similar work at Headlands Clinic in Makoni district, Zindi Clinic in Mutasa district and at Rimbi Clinic in Chipinge.local
