By Joyce Mukucha
Chitungwiza Municipality has today re-opened St Mary’s Clinic which was temporarily closed three weeks ago after seven health staff were infected by Covid-19, resulting in one death.
During its closure, Acting town clerk Dr. Tonderai Kasu said that the town did not have enough health staff out of isolation to man all clinics, and the clinic was supposed to re-open when more staff are available but the operations had to resume anyways.
In a statement yesterday, Dr. Kasu said, “We are still short-staffed, however, since the vast majority of those that were affected have been cleared to return to work, we are able to resume operations at St Mary’s Clinic
“This notice, therefore, serves to inform and inform our residents and stakeholders that we will be re-opening St Mary’s Clinic starting tomorrow the 6th of February 2021, and the clinic shall be offering a full range of services that it was offering before it was closed,” Dr. Kasu said.
Dr Kasu said concerted efforts will be shown to ensure full support to the staff and as well as remaining committed to serve the society.
“We shall continue doing the best we can to support and assist our staff, and as well we shall continue endeavoring to provide the best service to our community and while prioritizing, above all else, the preservation and protection of the sanctity of life.”
Chitungwiza Municipality’s St Mary’s Clinic was temporarily closed on the 14th of January because of staff shortages after seven frontline health workers tested positive for Covid-19 and one succumbed to the virus and died.
Dr. Kasu said from the group that tested positive, five cases were active with 24 others having recovered and de-isolated.
“After this, rigorous contact tracing and testing were done and the total number of our frontline health workers that had tested positive spiraled to 30 and all of these went to self-isolation. We have now reached a situation whereby, currently, from these groups, we have (5) active cases with (24) others having recovered and de-isolated.