Ngoni Dapira

THE Presidential Medical Outreach by Discovery Ambulances Services was in Chipinge last Saturday where scores of people received free medical tests and first aid training.

Many people especially the elderly women came to get free medical tests and medication for BP and sugar diabetes at the outreach, whilst most of the youths were mostly interested in the free basic first aid training and certification programme that was running parallel.

Courtesy of President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, the presidential medical outreach will be conducted countrywide by Discovery Ambulances Services (DAS). Bulawayo was the first to benefit from the outreach, followed by Chipinge District in Manicaland. DAS founder and chief executive officer David Munowenyu thanked President Mnangagwa for the initiative which he says will eventually pave way for mobile health initiatives to be conducted countrywide.

“We want to help more people who may have no other access to health care through these medical outreaches. We are grateful that His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa is supporting this initiative standing firm by his mantra of leaving no one behind. Our Presidential Medical Outreaches will be countrywide helping to bridge the gap in healthcare delivery and support the achievements the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our focus will be tailored to the specific needs of different communities focusing on basic first aid training and health education as well as basic medical checkups of BP, sugar diabetes and other diseases,” said Munowenyu.

Below is part of the Chipinge Presidential Medical Outreach in pictures:

DAS founder and Ceo David Munowenyu greeting 87 years old Junior Munjoma who was being attended to at the outreach.

DAS founder and Ceo David Munowenyu (centre) being greeted during the proceedings.

One of the medical aid trainees receiving her certificate.

DAS medic issuing out free medication to diagnosed patients.

Scores of people waiting for their turn to get checked for BP.

Part of the people that attended the free basic medical aid training.

Scores of youths and elderly people attended the medical outreach which also conducted free basic first aid training and certification as well as basic skills to emergency response such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) – an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating, done whilst waiting for medical assistance to arrive.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), mobile clinics are the future as they offer flexible and viable options for treating isolated and vulnerable groups as well as to newly displaced populations. WHO says these are best for coordinating crisis response. Mobile health care teams often operate either by foot, bicycles, motor bikes or motor vehicles, but motor vehicles are most efficient as they cover longer distances and accommodate more medical staff in the teams.

Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava said the medical outreach could not have come at a better time as more awareness needs to be amplified on sugar diabetes and BP which are now increasingly becoming life threatening diseases.

“Health service delivery is an asset to the people of Chipinge, Manicaland and Zimbabwe at large. We really feel happy for this initiative especially for those that do not have money for medical treatment. BP and sugar diabetes are now silent killer diseases which people need to be conscious of. This training was important to our communities for them to know about basic medical aid tips as well as to get free medical treatment for BP and sugar diabetes. We thank the President for this initiative,” said Mashava.

For 71 years old Edinah Dhliwayo who will celebrate her 71st birthday today (Friday), she said such schemes being implemented by President Mnangagwa are vital, especially for health delivery to the people.

“We want to thank President Mnangagwa for coming up with such initiatives to help us his people, especially us the elderly that are greatly affected BP and sugar diabetes. Thank you Discovery Ambulances and Mr Munowenyu who are implementing these outreach programmes. May God bless you abundantly and long live President Mnangagwa ,” said Dhliwayo who was escorted by her husband Joseph who also underwent testing for BP and sugar diabetes. There was also 87 year old Junior Munjoma who came to collect free BP and sugar diabetes tablets. She said more mobile outreach programmes should be done to help other elderly like her easily access medical care.

The new emergency ambulance service launched early this year, a brainchild of David and his wife Chantelle Munowenyu has entered the sector with a vision of providing affordable emergency medical services in every corner of Zimbabwe, setting a new health paradigm. Munowenyu says their decision to invest in the emergency medical services sector was guided by the widening gap to the affordability and accessibility of ambulances by the public.

In September DMS launched its emergency assistance number 9-9-1 in Mutare by launching the 9-1-1 Riddim at Gusheshe Leisure Centre. The 9-1-1 riddim was recorded by celebrated Zimdancehall and reggae music production house, Chill Spot Recordz, owned by DJ Fantan and DJ Levels who brought a plethora of artistes to perform at the launch.

Discovery Ambulance Services also offer services from basic first aid training to emergency life support courses for non-medicals as first line responders.

“We also provide Medsport and events cover where we station a fully kitted ambulance with highly trained ambulance technicians to respond swiftly. Of late we have presented job opportunities to more than 100 youths within the organisation with a ratio of 60% women,” added Munowenyu.