…no water for patients to bath
…pre-mature children dying in incubators
Knowledge Mhlanga
While the on-going load shedding by Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority (Zesa) is affecting operations at all hospitals in the
country, conditions at Chipinge District Hospital have become particularly
dire, with water becoming scarcer and pre-mature babies dying in switched off
incubators.
Supply Authority (Zesa) is affecting operations at all hospitals in the
country, conditions at Chipinge District Hospital have become particularly
dire, with water becoming scarcer and pre-mature babies dying in switched off
incubators.
Reports indicate that the hospital, which serves several
communities around Chipinge, is struggling with water challenges leading to
deplorable hygienic standards.
communities around Chipinge, is struggling with water challenges leading to
deplorable hygienic standards.
The little water that becomes available per day is being used
for more critical issues such as cleaning of injuries, drinking and cooking.
for more critical issues such as cleaning of injuries, drinking and cooking.
Functions that are considered non-critical, for example scrubbing
of floors and cleaning of linen, are being sidelined, leading to fears of new
infections within the hospital.
of floors and cleaning of linen, are being sidelined, leading to fears of new
infections within the hospital.
Sources at the hospital said the electric-powered borehole
was of no use when power is switched off.
was of no use when power is switched off.
One senior staff member said government should help the
institution install solar power in order to solve the problem.
institution install solar power in order to solve the problem.
“We are in a state of complete paralysis because without water
and electricity, serving patients becomes more difficult. We are doing all we
can to do our jobs under the harshest conditions but it’s all in vain most of
the times. Patients cannot take a bath regularly and we can’t use the toilets
with ease,” said the staff member.
and electricity, serving patients becomes more difficult. We are doing all we
can to do our jobs under the harshest conditions but it’s all in vain most of
the times. Patients cannot take a bath regularly and we can’t use the toilets
with ease,” said the staff member.
The source added that such critical units as maternity wards now
had to devise new ways of attending to expectant mothers under candle light and
with very little or no water.
had to devise new ways of attending to expectant mothers under candle light and
with very little or no water.
“Pre-mature children are dying because the incubators are off
most of the times. Every medical practitioner finds it heartbreaking to see
children with the potential to live failing to get the requisite support and
dying as a result,” the source said.
most of the times. Every medical practitioner finds it heartbreaking to see
children with the potential to live failing to get the requisite support and
dying as a result,” the source said.
It was also revealed that some drugs were going bad due to
lack of consistent refrigeration in the pharmacy while the situation is no
better at the mortuary too.
lack of consistent refrigeration in the pharmacy while the situation is no
better at the mortuary too.
“Some drugs need refrigeration while the mortuary requires
power all the time. The situation is worse than what many people think,” said
the source.
power all the time. The situation is worse than what many people think,” said
the source.
