People receiving free BP and diabetes screening during the celebrations
…maternity services suspended
Increase Gumbo
CHIREDZI – Chiredzi’s council-run clinic, Tshovani Polyclinic, the only clinic which is run by Chiredzi Town Council, has gone for 12 months without running water from the tapes and, as a result, the maternity ward has since been closed, TellZim News can reveal.
Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD), Amadeus Shamu, Zimbabwe Diabetes Association President Dr John Chamunorwa Mangwiro, Chiredzi District Medical Officer, Dr David Tarumbwa, Chief Tshovani and other stakeholders toured the intitution last Monday and witnessed the rot.
A staffer at the clinic narrated how the clinic has been operating for the past one year without even a drop of water coming from the taps.
“The situation here is pathetic, we have been operating for many months without water and the clinic has suspended maternity services,” said the official.
The official also lamented the fact that apart from having inadequate water supply, the clinic has also been operating for many years without enough staff.
“It’s not water alone that we do not have but we are also understaffed. We are only ten and the clinic needs at least 24 staff members for two shifts but we only have one shift because of inadequate staff,” said the official.
Dr Mangwiro expressed regret of the situation and recommended that the government together with the council should look at the issue and improve services at the clinic.
“I think the situation here needs the government to work closely with the council and provide for the necessities so that the clinic here can be fully utilised. There are very good machines here for maternity, there is space but it’s being underutilised because of a simple matter,” said Mangwiro.
Chiredzi Districtict Medical Officer, Doctor David Tarumbwa echoed the same sentiments stating that there was need to revive the maternity ward at the clinic since expecting mothers do not have another option except Chiredzi General Hospital which is now functioning under severe strain.news
