Sakubva District Hospital doubles surgical capacity for maternal care
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Sakubva District Hospital in Mutare, Zimbabwe, expanded its surgical capacity and maternal healthcare infrastructure to manage a rising number of patients.
The facility now serves as a specialized maternal and neonatal center to accommodate nearly 400 mothers who deliver there every month. The hospital completed renovations to include two fully functional operating theatres equipped with modern anaesthetic machines and a 45kW solar power backup system.
To create space for these expansions, the hospital moved its eye care services to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital. This relocation allowed the facility to build a new 15-bed maternal ward and a six-bed extension, adding 21 beds for maternal care. Old Mutual provided a donation of 20 modern hospital beds, five advanced patient monitors, two stretcher beds, two airport-style waiting benches, 100 bedsheets, and 200 heavy blankets.
The hospital also built a central pharmacy warehouse and recruited new doctors, radiographers, nurses, social workers, and laboratory scientists following a government decision to unfreeze job posts. Dr David Muchirewesi, the Mutare District Medical Officer, stated that these changes address a sharp rise in patient volumes that strained resources. While the facility now offers improved maternal and neonatal care, Muchirewesi noted that the hospital still only provides maternity services.
He urged the government to build a full district hospital to provide broader services like radiology, dental care, and rehabilitation.
