Mbare Polyclinic in Harare, Zimbabwe was built in 1932 to serve the African population. It currently serves over 135,000 people in the densely populated and poor Mbare area. The clinic handles around 350 births and 1855 patient visits per month. However, it faces major challenges including obsolete equipment, shortages of drugs, supplies and staff due to Zimbabwe's economic crisis of hyperinflation, unemployment, and lack of funds. The document requests equipment, renovations, supplies and vehicles to help the clinic improve its maternal care and overall services.

1. ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH – EUROPE
(ZimHealth)
(RÉSEAU ZIMBABWÉEN POUR L’ACCÈS À LA SANTÉ)
CITY OF HARARE
CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
MBARE POLYCLINIC PROFILE
Built in 1932 as a maternity clinic for the African population, Mbare Polyclinic is a City
of Harare polyclinic situated in the highly populated but centrally situated high density of
Mbare, home to one of Harare’s poorest population. From the last census and yearly
adjustments thereafter, the catchment population for Mbare Polyclinic is officially
estimated at 135 437 but it can easily be several times more than that.
The clinic is one of Harare’s busiest clinics with a maternity bed capacity of 30 and an
average of 350 deliveries per month. Providing a comprehensive package of primary
health care services, the clinic has one of the busiest out patient workload with an average
out-patients throughput of 1855 per month. The primary health care services provided
include;
SERVICES PROVIDED
Reproductive Health Services/FP
Maternity services
Curative services
Opportunistic Infection Clinic
Immunization and Family Health Services
Tuberculosis treatment and control
Treatment of Chronic conditions
School Health Services/Institution crèche visits
PMTC services/counselling services
VITAL STATISTICS
Bed capacity x 30
Deliveries x 350/month
Out patients 1855 per month
MAJOR CHALLENGES
Like the rest of the council clinics, the poly clinic has been severely affected by the
challenging economic environment currently prevailing in Zimbabwe that is
characterized by the following economic and social fundamentals;

2. ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH – EUROPE
(ZimHealth)
(RÉSEAU ZIMBABWÉEN POUR L’ACCÈS À LA SANTÉ)
 Hyper inflation with an official annual inflation estimate of over 250million
 Shortage of foreign currency
 Unemployment at over 80%
 Restricted access to health care due to escalating costs of health care
 The current cholera epidemic caused fundamentally by lack of adequate clean
water and sanitation
 High prevalence of HIV/AIDS and high demand of Anti Retroviral therapy.
Specifically, the clinic faces the following challenges
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
Obsolete maternity equipment, obstetric equipment, resuscitation equipment
Dilapidated buildings.
Shortages of drugs, medical and non medical sundries
Shortage of transport for logistics and staff
Poor remuneration of staff resulting in low morale
MATERNITY REQUIREMENTS
Obstetric equipment
Resuscitation equipment
Bed sheets x 1000
Draw sheets x 1000
Blankets x 500
Pillows with plastic cover x 400
Pillow cases x 800
Baby name tag x 1000
Linen savers x 500
Cord clamps x 2000
Nurses’ gowns x 50
Patients’ gowns x 100
Patients’ plates x 40
Patients tea cup x 40
Table spoons x 40
Teaspoons x 40
Clipboards x 50
Patients’ folders x 5000
Tea x 2
Microwave x 1
Staff tea pots large x 3
Sugar basins x 3
Milk jugs x 3

3. ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH – EUROPE
(ZimHealth)
(RÉSEAU ZIMBABWÉEN POUR L’ACCÈS À LA SANTÉ)
RENOVATIONS
Replace tiles in maternity
Repair ceilings in PCC, Maternity and FHS
Repaint the whole clinic
Refurbishment of outside patients’ toilet
Install ceiling fans in PCC x 2, Offices x 7
Repair geysers in maternity, PCC and FHS
Refurbishment DNO’s office
DHSA’s office
District Nutritionist’s office
Repair showers in maternity Block
CLINIC REQUIREMENTS
Generators x 2
Security lights x 2
Hot Air Sterilizers x 2
Polishers x 2
Formica tables x 2
Small Visitors benches x 30
Torch x 3
Outside patients benches x 10
Patients’ lockers x 30
Staff lockers x 37
Mop buckets with squeezers
TRANSPORT
1. Pick ups for clinic logistics
2. Minibus
3. Fuel
4. Bicycle x

4. ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH – EUROPE
(ZimHealth)
(RÉSEAU ZIMBABWÉEN POUR L’ACCÈS À LA SANTÉ)
HUMAN RESOURCES
The clinic is visited by a council medical officer at least once every week.
The clinic has the following staff complement
o DHPO x 1
o Matron x 1
o Sister In Charge x 3
o Registered General Nurse x 27
o Certified Nurses x 12
o Administrator x 1
o Clerk x 2
o Clinic Orderly x 8
o Clinic Attendant x 9
o General Labourer x 1
SUNDRIES
Latex gloves x 10 000
Surgical gloves x 1000 pairs
Mortuary gloves x 1000 pairs
Plastic disposable gloves x 6000
Plastic aprons x 50
Plastic Heavy duty aprons x 50
Jik 5 litres x 60
Liquid soap 5 litres x 50
Toilet tissues x 600 rolls
Viking paper hand towels 24 packets
Hand towels x 30
Refuse bags x 600
Refuse bins plastic for water x 10
Vim x 36 tins
Dot x 40 litres
Insecticide x 30 bottles
Surf x 20kg
Soap x 80 bars
Air freshener x 12
Suture Material 2/0 x 60
ORS Sachets x 3000
Aqua tablets x 500
Chlorine tablets x 1000

5. ZIMBABWE NETWORK FOR HEALTH – EUROPE
(ZimHealth)
(RÉSEAU ZIMBABWÉEN POUR L’ACCÈS À LA SANTÉ)
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Bond paper
Computer x 2
Printer x 2 and ink
Punchers x 8
Staplers x 8
Staples 15 boxes
Office electric fans x 6
Electric heaters x 8
Staff chairs x 20
Office desks x 2
Easy chairs x 6
Filing cabinets x 4
CDMA phone x 3
Memory stick x 4
KITCHEN REQUIREMENTS
Stove 4 plates x 2
Tea urn x 2
Electric iron x 2
Chairs x 15
Fridge x 1
Kitchen cupboards x 5
Microwave x 2
GARDEN EQUIPMENT
Heavy duty Lawnmower x 1
Hosepipe x 60 metres
Wheelbarrow x 1
Rack x 1
Shovel x 1
Hoe x 1
Hedge cutter x 2
Slashers x 10
Sprinklers x 4
http://www.zimhealth.org/