….as Zesa sues hospital for
$120k debt
$120k debt
….mortuary is broken down
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIKOMBEDZI
– The
Free Methodist-run Chikombedzi Mission Hospital is in a dilapidated state with
all facilities and services being in deplorable shape due to lack of funding.
– The
Free Methodist-run Chikombedzi Mission Hospital is in a dilapidated state with
all facilities and services being in deplorable shape due to lack of funding.
The hospital is choking in debt
and is also operating without key equipment and drugs, with the country’s power
utility company ZESA recently launching a lawsuit to recover $120 000 owed by
the struggling medical facility.
and is also operating without key equipment and drugs, with the country’s power
utility company ZESA recently launching a lawsuit to recover $120 000 owed by
the struggling medical facility.
The hospital is experiencing severe
water crisis, there is a shortage of bed linen and theatre equipment while staff
houses are dilapidated.
water crisis, there is a shortage of bed linen and theatre equipment while staff
houses are dilapidated.
Chiredzi South Member of
Parliament (MP) Kalisto Gwanetsa, Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) Chief
Executive Officer Isaac Matsilele and Acting Chiredzi District Medical Officer
David Tarumbwa last week toured Chikombedzi Mission Hospital to appreciate the
sad state of affairs there.
Parliament (MP) Kalisto Gwanetsa, Chiredzi Rural District Council (RDC) Chief
Executive Officer Isaac Matsilele and Acting Chiredzi District Medical Officer
David Tarumbwa last week toured Chikombedzi Mission Hospital to appreciate the
sad state of affairs there.
Gwanetsa said he invited the
other officials so that they could all find ways of rescuing the hospital.
other officials so that they could all find ways of rescuing the hospital.
“After noticing the challenges
being faced at the hospital, I invited the district medical head to assess the
situation so that we can help each other find solutions.
being faced at the hospital, I invited the district medical head to assess the
situation so that we can help each other find solutions.
“This hospital was built a long
time ago with late national vice presidents Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John
Nkomo once being treated here while staying at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp
during the liberation struggle,” said Gwanetsa.
time ago with late national vice presidents Joshua Nkomo, Joseph Msika and John
Nkomo once being treated here while staying at Gonakudzingwa Restriction Camp
during the liberation struggle,” said Gwanetsa.
Chikombedzi Hospital matron, Ruth
Hlongwane said most nurses and doctors who come to work at the hospital end up
seeking transfers as they cannot stand the conditions at the facility.
Hlongwane said most nurses and doctors who come to work at the hospital end up
seeking transfers as they cannot stand the conditions at the facility.
She said the Zesa lawsuit was
worsening the hospital’s capacity to deliver services, adding that conditions
in the wards were also bad as patients were not getting good food.
worsening the hospital’s capacity to deliver services, adding that conditions
in the wards were also bad as patients were not getting good food.
“We only have hard water from the
borehole but it not suitable for use during laboratory operations and cannot be
used in our laundry machines. Our mortuary has since broken down forcing people
to collect corpses immediately after the death of their loved ones.
borehole but it not suitable for use during laboratory operations and cannot be
used in our laundry machines. Our mortuary has since broken down forcing people
to collect corpses immediately after the death of their loved ones.
“We have been dragged to court by
Zesa over the $120 000 electricity bill which the government had promised to
pay for us but failed to do so.
Zesa over the $120 000 electricity bill which the government had promised to
pay for us but failed to do so.
“Patients are being fed cabbages daily
and they are not getting proper medicines. Our ambulances are down and the BP
machines are broken. We have only one doctor yet we need at least four,” said
Hlongwane.
and they are not getting proper medicines. Our ambulances are down and the BP
machines are broken. We have only one doctor yet we need at least four,” said
Hlongwane.
