 |
| Rujeko Clinic |
…Rujeko Clinic too
small
…authorities expect
upsurge of cases in coming weeks
…no skills to operate
ventilators
TellZim Reporter
Authorities in Masvingo
are exploring more possible isolation facilities, with expectations that there
will be an upsurge of Covid-19 cases after the lockdown incubation period,
TellZim can report.
The City of
Masvingo-run Rujeko Clinic is the only isolation facility so far, but it is
understood to be too small to make a meaningful difference should many people require
services at once after the incubation period.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines the ‘incubation
period’ as the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms
of the disease. The organisation says most estimates of the incubation period
for the novel coronavirus range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days.
City of Masvingo acting
town clerk Edward Mukaratirwa said the clinic could only accommodate up to 10
people at once.
“I have been informed
by our Health department that the clinic can hold not more than 10 patients at
a time. That is the capacity of the facilities we have but it is our wish to be
able to do more in the fight against the spread of the virus,” said
Mukaratirwa.
He said he was glad
that the medical equipment donation from Germany that the city made to Masvingo
Provincial Hospital last year included a ventilator which he hoped would be
useful should there be need.
City of Masvingo is in
a twinning arrangement with the German Municipality of Kernen and some
nationals of the European country who are part of the Kernen-Masvingo
Association made a donation to the city which included an ambulance. City
fathers say part of the donation, which included the ventilator, was forwarded
to Masvingo Provincial Hospital.
Provincial Medical
Director (PMD) Dr Amadeus Shamu, however, said he was yet to assess the
functionality of the said ventilator and raised concerns that there were no
readily-available skills to operate such kind of equipment.
“I am yet to find out
about the ventilator which is still at our workshop. There would be need for
extensive training on how to handle the ventilator since we don’t have the
skills here,” said Shamu.
He said local health
authorities were looking at the possibility of turning the Great Zimbabwe
University (GZU)-owned Simon Mazorodze Clinic in Mucheke A and Mashava Mine
Hospital into isolation facilities.
He urged people to
comply with government’s lockdown regulations, warning that there were neither
enough isolation facilities nor a cure for Covid-19.
“We need more isolation
facilities to deal with serious cases. As a result, those who will test
positive but display mild symptoms and are not critical will not be taken in.
They will be encouraged to practice self-isolation at home. We will only take
those who are in critical condition and require oxygen support,” warned Shamu.
