By Chipiso Sihle Tarisai| Water crisis in Chipinge’s Shekwa area has delayed the opening of a new clinic built to improve access to health care for the community, in a move that has left villagers worried and disheartened.

In an interview with one of the affected villagers Bessie Magaa, she said due to the geographical set up of the area, a borehole for the clinic was drilled 2 kilometres away but needs pipes and water pump so that it can get to the health centre.

“Despite having worked tirelessly for the clinic, Shekwa residents have been disheartened by the delay in the opening of the clinic. It is a prerequisite that there should be running water at the clinic before it is opened to the public,” Magaa.

Another Shekwa villager, Tendai Mutanda they were ecstatic that the burden of walking long distances to get to a health care centre had been addressed but now have to content with continuing until the water situation is resolved.

“Clinic yakatikoshera semadzimai madoko tichiri kubara tinoda koohloiwa mimba nekubairisa vana. Mumango uripo koobude Chikore unorwadza une mimba kana wakabereka mwana kumushana zvekuti mimba zhinji tinotozondoonyoresa kuma30 weeks. (The clinic is of paramount importance to us as young women who are still in the child bearing age since there is a long distance to the nearby hospital such that we end up booking our pregnancies at 30 weeks which is risky.) said Mutanda.

Shekwa Village Health Worker, Meriah Hasha confirmed that the delays in the opening the clinic had greatly affected women since most of them often delay booking their pregnancies which is very risky especially if the mother is HIV positive or Blood Pressure.

“The opening of a clinic will be helpful especially to women and kids,” said Hasha.

Speaking to the area councilor Mrs Magaa, she said the opening of the clinic was taking longer than expected despite its importance to the community.

She appealed to well wishers to donate a water so that they can pump water to the clinic.

“The nearest clinic is 5km away so the elderly, the sick as well as pregnant mothers are really in a fix,” said Magaa.