Introduction
The Zephania and Mildrate Matanga Medical Centre (ZMMMC) is a registered not-for-profit Family Trust founded in 2014 by Dr. Zephania Matanga and Mrs. Mildrate Matanga to provide accessible, quality healthcare to rural communities in Zimbabwe. Located in the Chirasauta community of Matanga Village, Ward 27, Chikomba District, Mashonaland East Province, about 250 km southeast of Harare, ZMMMC operates as a public–private partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Canadian partners, the Canadian Multicultural Disability Centre and the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation. Guided by its mission to inspire, nurture the human spirit, and empower individuals to confront health challenges, the Centre focuses on primary healthcare, maternal and child health, chronic illness management, poverty alleviation, and community empowerment — bringing hope and healing to those most in need.
Building Layout
The layout of the current Zephania and Mildrate Matanga Medical Centre facilities was designed to promote efficiency and flexibility in the provision of out-patient, maternity care and critical care services within the current context and in line with the National Regulations and requirements for establishing such facilities in Zimbabwe. All the buildings were designed for specific activities and are defined by the activity they contain covering the outpatient department, maternity care and critical care services.
Key Considerations
Enhancing Infrastructure for Disease Control
In addition, laundry and mortuary structures are in the process of being constructed to enhance the disease control regime at the Centre. Zephania and Mildrate Matanga Medical Centre has been designed and built to be a safe environment for all.
Commitment to Safety and Structural Integrity
The buildings have been designed and built to appropriate fire safety and structural safety standards and enable good infection control through the use of correct rooms for different activities.
Infection Control and Hygiene Measures
To achieve effective infection control measures, clinical wash-hand basins, which have taps that can be operated by wrists or elbows and allow hands and forearms to be washed under running water, have been included.
Safe Waste Management and Environmental Hygiene
The layout of Zephania and Mildrate Matanga Medical Centre has also been designed to enable healthcare waste to be collected and managed safely, thereby promoting cleanliness and hygiene within the facility. This includes the establishment of a dedicated waste zone with an incinerator and bottle crusher installed.
Economical Design
The Medical centre was economically designed taking into consideration the construction costs, efficiency, maintenance and running costs through adopting simple but compliant lay outs, using appropriate local materials and details and the incorporation of intelligent environmental design and appropriate electrical specification putting more emphasis on the use of renewable energy. (Solar).
The design also allows for patients and staff to feel comfortable as we have constructed three staff houses with future plans to construct nine more. The orientation of the buildings allows for the maximization of cross ventilation and reduces solar heat gain.
Compliance & Permissions
Zephania and Mildrate Matanga Medical Centre complies with the Zimbabwean Standards and Regulations Building codes on:
healthcare facilities which sets out standards to which all buildings must conform covering design, construction, alteration, repair and maintenance.
Planning permission and relevant approvals were sort and put in place before construction started and Regulatory inspections are being conducted at all the relevant stages.