By Virginia Njovo
Masvingo City Council has commenced construction of one of its largest maternity wards at Runyararo Clinic which is expected to be complete by December 2025 in a bid to enhance healthcare services for residents.
The project will enhance healthcare services for residents, particularly expectant mothers and new-borns by reducing referrals to other facilities and improving maternal healthcare outcomes in the area.
Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe confirmed the developments to TellZim News and said work was in progress at the clinic which has a capacity to accommodate 20 expecting women at a time making it the biggest council owned maternity clinic.
“Construction of the maternity wing started last month and we are expecting to have it completed and operational before the end of 2025. The wing will have a carrying capacity of 20 women per day,” said Tabe.
Tabe said Masvingo City was targeting to have a maternity wing at every council clinic to improve access to healthcare.
“As part of efforts to improve health care services in Masvingo we are targeting to have a maternity wing at every clinic. After Runyararo clinic we are going to Rujeko clinic.
“Once completed the facility will offer safe delivery spaces, post and pre natal care units and modern equipment to support quality maternal healthcare,” said Tabe.
US$50 000 was allocated towards the construction of the maternity wing in the Masvingo City’s 2025 budget.
Masvingo City has pledged to improve maternal and child health care services for the community, as they recently completed a maternity wing at North West Medical Clinic using devolution funds.
For several years Mazorodze clinic served as the sole clinic in Masvingo City offering martenity services thereby overwhelming it at the same time a burdening residents from other suburbs who had to travel to get the services.
