Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
Masvingo has reserved one of it’s health institutions, Rujeko clinic as an Infectious Disease Facility as it intensifies it’s COVID-19 preparedness.
The Director of Health for Masvingo City Council, Ngonidzashe Mapamula said this today while addressing the media and residents.
He revealed that council intended to construct a infectious diseases centre but it did not have the funds.
The facility will accommodate suspected cases of corona virus.
“Rujeko clinic was being renovated so we are now going to use it as the infectious disease facility for those who will be suspected of having COVID 19. We are trying to be prepared as we do not know what the future holds. The facility will help to quarantine those being suspected of the virus so that they do not mix with the others.
We should have built a new infectious clinic but funds are not permitting us that is why we are going to use Rujeko Clinic,” he said.
Mapamula said that there is only trained personnel and no machinery in Masvingo.
“So far in Masvingo we do not have any machinery to test for COVID 19 but we have the skilled personnel who were trained in preparation.
“In any suspected cases, we take the samples we would have taken here in Masvingo to Harare and it takes five hours to receive the results and then the tests are then taken to South Africa for future testing which then takes 72 hours for us to get the results. The second test confirms the first test,” said Mapamula.
Residents in the high density suburb of Rujeko however expressed their concerns over having an infectious disease facility near them.
Residents said that Council should have chosen another area in the outskirts considering that their health will be compromised if a patient fleds from the clinic like what happened at Wilkins hospital where a Thai national fled before they could be tested.
