THE shortage of medical supplies has been a major challenge to health institutions in Matabeleland South where some clinics have gone for months without basic medication like Paracetamol among other drugs.

This was revealed by Matabeleland South provincial medical director Dr Rudo Chikodzore during First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s visit to the province yesterday.

Amai Mnangagwa is in the province for her family fun sports day to be held today.

The First Lady, who is the Ambassador for Health and Child Care, recently donated bicycles for village health workers countrywide and yesterday took the chance to make a follow-up in Matabeleland South.

She visited Nhlangano and Natisa clinics in Umzingwane and Matobo districts where she was welcomed by ecstatic health workers who received the donated bicycles.

“I came here for a family fun sports day where I will be mixing and mingling with the elderly through sports so we promote healthy lifestyles. I then decided to pass through these clinics to see how the health workers are managing and using the donated bicycles,” said the First Lady.

“I know that clinics are far away from referral hospitals and these bicycles are used by our village health workers to go supervise patients and gather information on what is needed in those hard to reach areas.

“Most of our folks in these communities are aged and cannot walk long distances to the clinics hence the need for these bicycles,” she said.State media