By Kundai Marunya

THE CIMAS Health Group has launched a well-equipped and professionally staffed mobile clinic to improve health care access in remote and underserved communities.

This comes at a time access to healthcare is still a major concern in the country, with some communities travelling over 20 kilometres to the nearest healthcare centre.

Lack of access to healthcare facilities has left citizens being fatally affected by curable diseases.

By the time they reach medical centres in distant areas, some diseases that can easily be cured would have taken a fatal turn.

Distance delays medical assistance, while in some cases it deters the sick from seeking treatment.

The advent of mobile clinics, in needy areas provides immediate relief, complementing Government efforts in providing healthcare for all.

CIMAS, which claims to be the country’s largest private medical aid society and health and wellness service provider, continues to embrace innovative models to improve service delivery in the health sector. 

The ground-breaking development saw the company acquiring a mobile clinic, a customised motor vehicle that will be staffed by a combination of health experts to bring essential healthcare services on wheels directly to communities in need. 

CIMAS showcased the state-of-the-art mobile clinic at the Harare Agricultural Show which ended last week. 

CIMAS Health Group chief executive officer Vulindlela Ndlovu said the acquisition of the mobile clinic underscored the group’s commitment to providing global standard health and wellness solutions regardless of the people’s location or circumstances. 

“In today’s fast-paced world, access to quality healthcare is of utmost importance and as CIMAS we continue to be innovative in the health sector. We purchased a mobile clinic in our efforts to improve the accessibility of health services,” Ndlovu said.  

“This mobile clinic is a transformative tool in the healthcare delivery system as it revolutionises the way medical services are provided. It brings healthcare directly to communities, regardless of their location or infrastructure limitations.” 

Elsewhere in the world, mobile clinics have proved essential in providing healthcare to communities with limited access.

They are also used to relieve existing medical infrastructure in areas where facilities are over-subscribed due to growing populations.

The introduction of the concept in the country will likely save many lives.

Ndlovu said by launching the mobile clinic, CIMAS was seeking to take health service delivery to underserved populations, and areas with limited access or inadequate healthcare infrastructure.  

“Our mobile clinic will be used to provide a wide range of services that can be tailored to specific needs of the populations, thereby bringing healthcare directly to communities in need,” he said. 

“Using this mobile clinic will help us expand our efforts to deliver healthcare to less privileged societies as the mobile clinic will cater for a wide range of healthcare needs, including preventive care, vaccinations, health education and primary healthcare services.” 

Meanwhile, the absence of alternatives to healthcare centres has been blamed for the rise in counterfeit medicines and unapproved treatment methods.

Community health expert Dr Tinashe Moyo said alternative treatments were a ticking time bomb.

“Limited access to healthcare has driven desperate communities to rely on untested alternative medication that comes masked as herbs of stem cell therapy,” she said.

“The fact that this is experimental medication means they may have far-reaching detrimental effects in the future. It will not be surprising to have our communities suffering from some types of cancers or chronic diseases never before experienced in Zimbabwe.”

Though not approved by the country’s regulatory authorities, alternative experimental medicines are growing in popularity.

Dr Moyo said limited access to healthcare was also pushing Zimbabweans to counterfeit medicines.

“Counterfeit medicines are also being sold to remote communities as legitimate drugs,” she said. 

“Those who trade in counterfeit drugs usually travel to remote areas using motorcycles and sell medicines to unsuspecting individuals. 

“Their easy access makes them an acceptable alternative. However, they pose a possible crisis due to their potential side effects.

“The coming of mobile clinics will go a long way in bridging the gap in accessing health while Government continues constructing facilities in different areas as we work towards health access for all.”

Mobile clinics have the advantage of serving a number of communities. One unit can be deployed around different areas, depending on need.

The concept is a potential game-changer in the healthcare delivery system across the country through its ability to reach even the most marginalised areas.

Added Ndlovu: “Strengthening health service delivery is crucial for CIMAS and to the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include the delivery of interventions to reduce child mortality and maternal mortality.”   

The Government has, over the years, significantly improved access to healthcare through construction of health facilities across the country, including in rural areas.

Since 2018, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has made significant strides in the development of health infrastructure, with more than 50 health facilities constructed and completed.

Nearly 100 others were renovated, while solar systems were installed at 1 074 health facilities. More than 400 health facilities benefitted from borehole drilling projects.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic cast the spotlight on the challenges that already existed in the healthcare system, particularly in access to health services for underserved communities, Government made strenuous efforts to address the challenges and ensure universal access to healthcare.

The devolution programme has allowed local authorities across the country to boost health service delivery, particularly in rural areas where millions of Zimbabweans had been left out due to lack of facilities.

In remote areas, village healthcare workers have also made a tremendous contribution in improving access to health.

The health sector has not been spared the brain drain, as many health professionals trained by the Government have emigrated to the Diaspora, leaving medical facilities understaffed.

Innovative efforts to improve healthcare have always been welcome as the country seeks lasting solutions to health care delivery across the country.