Tendayi Gatsi, NMSI, visited Stoneridge on 19th November and conducted a number of interviews to look at how the health centre is already impacting local individuals and the community.
Rangarirayi Maendaenda, a construction worker onsite, recently employed in the last three months, expressed his happiness with his job thanks to the amount he is learning from the other contractors onsite. He is also pleased with the prospect of the health centre, stating that his community had to walk long distances to go to other
facilities like the Chitungwiza hospital and High Field.
“Personally, I am happy that we will get treatment nearby… it really motivates me that I am involved in building this facility for our community”
Mrs Shamuyarira, a security guard at the Harare South site noted her gratitude that the health centre is being built at Stoneridge,
“Chipo chakabva kuna Jehova, takarangarirwa zvemhando yepamusorosoro” [It’s a blessing coming from God, we were remembered with the most high] She repeated that the local community is happy with the project as “the facility [signifies] life”.
Columbus, a construction worker who works predominantly doing ceilings and skimming said that the community are proud to have a health centre being built in the Stoneridge area, which is far from other facilities.
“In the past the distance has been a challenge, especially considering transport costs, but now in an emergency we have a health centre we can get to.”
Columbus has also learnt new methods of construction using steel frames and boards instead of traditional brick and mortar.
Mrs Chiwigi, one of 30 local women employed to help with site clearing and litter picking expressed the community’s excitement. She stated that they are looking forward to the opening of the facility as they have nothing similar in the local area, and it has always been a challenge to access healthcare in emergencies. She is also pleased that she has had the opportunity of employment and is happy to be cleaning the site for ‘her’ health centre, making sure that it’s clean and smart.
