‘Pari ready for increased Covid hospitalisations’

By Kundai Marunya

Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospital, Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, which sealed its gates last week, banning patient visitations due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, is ready to deal with increased coronavirus-related hospitalisations, Nhau has learnt.
Zimbabwe is experiencing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases, which some health experts have said is the second wave of the virus.
South Africa, Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner, last week declared itself officially in the grip of a second wave of Covid-19 after reporting over 6 000 cases in a single day.
“We are ready for Covid-19 patients that may need hospitalisation,” said Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals public relations officer Linos Dhire.
Dhire spoke to Nhau following reports that the hospital’s HDU had reached full capacity with Covid-19 patients while a handful are in the ICU.
“We currently have only a few patients hospitalised who tested positive for Covid-19, about 20 percent of our capacity.”
Parirenyatwa has 425 beds to cater for Covid-19 patients and 20 percent translates to about 85 patients currently hospitalised at the health institution due to Covid-19.
He added: “We also have adequate staff to cater for patients if the number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients were to rise.”
Announcing the banning of visitors to the health institution in a statement recently, the hospital said the decision was made “due to the surge in the number of Covid-19 local infections and an increase in reported cases within our institution”.
“This measure has been necessitated by the need to protect inpatients, staff members, and visitors,” read the statement.
To ensure continued patient support from relatives, only the recorded next of kin are allowed in the day spaces of wards for updates on the patient’s progress and any other requirements.
Although numbers of infections are relatively low in the country, the reopening schools and restarting of the economy about two months ago has seen a sharp surge.
Government officials have not been spared either by this new wave of infections – with Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo, who tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday, being the latest high ranking official to get infected.
Fears are that other Government officials may also have contracted Covid-19, since Honorable Moyo was among the dignitaries that graced the official conferment of the city status of Victoria Falls last week, which was officiated by President Mnangagwa.
Though the numbers seem to have gone down over the weekend, there are fears that the country will experience an increased number of infections during the holidays as there are likely to be high travels and gatherings.
Zimbabweans in the diaspora are already trickling in for the holidays, some of them coming from the hard-hit South Africa.
In a recent interview with Nhau, Chief Co-ordinator of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said Government is going to strengthen existing regulations if the situation gets out of hand.
“If your grass is too long and you buy a lawnmower, and never use it, then realise you still have the same problem, will you buy a new lawnmower or will you use the one you have to cut your grass?
“We are still in lockdown but people have been reluctant in adhering to set guidelines which explains the recent spike in new infections,” said Dr Mahomva.
“As Government we will continue to strengthen the existing regulations through increased training of health workers, community engagement and spreading the message of adherence. We encourage people to embrace the new normal.”
Though there are no hints on imposition of stricter guidelines such as restricting travel and gatherings Government, however, urged people to travel only when necessary.
“We know that people usually travel to various parts of the country and gather around during the festive season,” said Mahomva,
“We, however, urge people to travel only when necessary and avoid gatherings.” Nhau/Indaba