ELLEN MLAMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – Masvingo medical doctor, Phineas Makurira has won the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) 2023 Excellence Award of Lifetime Achievement.
Makurira whose name is synonymous with healthcare in Zimbabwe received the award at a hotel in Harare on September 30, 2023.
The Lifetime Achievement is the highest honour that ZIMA can grant.
The citation said that he was awarded for his contribution to health care and the medical profession. He walked away with a certificate and a plaque.
“The award came as a complete surprise to me. I am gratified that ZIMA acknowledged and recognised my contribution to the sector and profession. It’s a great honour, humbling indeed!
“They did due diligence and asked their membership throughout the country on who qualifies for the award,” said Dr Makurira.
He shared the award with Professor Phinea Muguti.
He received the award from CIMAS CEO Vulindlela Ndlovu.
Makurira Memoral Clinic which Dr Makurira has run for many years and is the biggest private healthcare center in Masvingo was awarded City of Masvingo Civic Honour award (2020) for outstanding contribution to the community of Masvingo. There are many other prizes won by the clinic.
Dr Makurira is a former ZiMA president who served from 1998 to 2002. His tenure saw great push for the National Aids Council to provide antiretroviral for free.
He was president of the Health Professionals Authority and a board member of the Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) Southern Africa.
Dr Makurira who was born in Zvishavane qualified as a medical practitioner in 1978. He started working at Mpilo on January 1, 1979. In 1980 he joined the Government Medical Office and was deployed to the then Fort Victoria General Hospital on January 1, 1981 where he was appointed substantive Medical Superintendent the same year on December 23.
Dr Makurira said he left Government service in April 1984 to start his own medical practice in order to uplift his family as a first graduate, to create employment and to provide unique service to the community.
Makurira Memorial Clinic has a staff complement of 21 and 25 beds. The institution has services and facilities which include Outpatient Unit, Accident and Emergency Unit (Casualty), Operating Theatre, Admissions Section, Maternity Section, X-ray and USS Department and Spirometry services.
There are also independent operators for Kidney dialysis and Laboratory.