Initial reports suggest that the facility would carry 36 beds, each with a ventilator as Tagwirei joins the fight against this deadly virus. The treatment centre would be accessed by all people requiring emergency COVID-19 treatment.
Rock Foundation Medical Centre was previously owned by incarcerated politician Munyaradzi Kereke, who is the former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe deputy Governor.
This positive development comes at a time Doctors and nurses in Zimbabwe’s public health institutions have downed tools over failure by government to provide them with basic personal protective equipment to handle COVID-19 patients. Jack Ma foundation, owned by Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma has channelled significant donations into Africa’s public health system to capacitate the continent to overcome Coronavirus. Whilst Tagwirei’s private acquisition of Rock Foundation is a welcome development for Zimbabwe, it does not address the broader public health crisis that the country is currently facing. In the event of a surge in critical COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe, Tagwirei’s 36- bed treatment centre may end up taking care of the political elites only.
It is time Zimbabwe unites to prioritize the rebuilding of its public healthcare system to guarantee proper health service delivery to its broader populace in the wake of COVID-19.
