Public Hospitals Now Derelict

THE situation in public medical institutions in Masvingo has reached critical levels since the country attained Independence as most hospitals are operating without the required medical equipment and drugs, putting the lives of patients at risk. Investigations by The NewsHawks revealed Masvingo General Hospital and most district hospitals are operating without basic pain killers like paracetamol.

The institution is facing challenges when taking patients from the district clinics and when transferring referrals to Harare. Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital is currently operating without critical drugs for mentally challenged patients.

 The hospital is also grappling with shortages of blankets and bed linen as well as beds, with some patients now sleeping on the floor due to an increased number of their intake, which medical experts attribute to the harsh economic situation being experienced in the country.

The short[1]age of equipment in maternity wards is also cited as the major cause of mortality deaths as expecting mothers are usually not attended to on time. Deputy minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said he was not aware of what is happening in Masvingo Hospitals and referred questions to Masvingo provincial medical Shamhu who said he was in a meeting when The NewsHawks called him for a comment.

However, Chiredzi Hospital medical super[1]intendent Dr David Tarumbwa told The News[1]Hawks that two ambulances at the hospital broke down due to mechanical faults and the hospital is failing to raise money to repair them. He said it is not a secret that hospitals are facing challenges, but they differ according to locations.

An official at Chiredzi Hospital told The NewsHawks that nurses are going to work, but they are doing nothing since the hospital does not have medicine and the required equipment. He said patients are eating beans on a daily basis and those referred to other hospitals have to hire private ambulances for them to be transported.

“Patients at Ngomahuru are not being spared the rot in our medical institutions in the country. Critical drugs like chlorpromazine which comes in tablets and intramascular injections; diazepam, an intramascular or intravenous injection, are in short supply at Ngomahuru which should be given priority by our government as mental patients are increasing and we attribute it to poverty. The hospital went for weeks without water last year and it seems authorities are not worried about that institution,” a senior medical officer in Masvingo said. NewsHawks