adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
SEVEN clinics in Bulilima have been operating for many years without safe water, a councillor has said.
Speaking recently at a full council meeting, Bulilima Rural District Council social services committee chairperson, Clr SimonSibanda said out of a total of 15 clinics, seven of them could be closed due to water challenges.
He said the local authority needs to address the water shortage urgently, to avoid the closure of the clinics.
“Huwana, Sikhathini and Ndiweni Clinics are the worst affected as they’ve gone for years without running water. Other clinics have problematic engines and they’re faced with frequent water problems.
“Rural health centres can’t function without safe water sources and the council is at a risk of having half of the clinics in the district shut down because of the absence of safe water,” said Clr Sibanda.
He said running water was crucial in maintaining standard clinical hygiene and controlling infections.
Clr Sibanda said while some engines for pumping water to clinics had broken down, other communities were failing to raise money to keep their engines fuelled and operational.
The social services committee chairperson who was presenting his committee’s report on the state of clinics in the district said almost all clinics were in need of door repairs.
He said two clinics were dilapidated as their roofing was caving in which was putting patients and health staff at risk as they could collapse at any time. He said clinic staff members were also in need of protective clothing.
“There is also a challenge of staffing in some clinics as five of them are operating without nurse aids while two clinics don’t have general hands. The community members also need to be capacitated so that they can carry out renovations of their clinics and maintenance of infrastructure without depending fully on the local authority,” said Clr Sibanda.
In an interview the councillor for Ndiweni area, Clr Sylvester Nkomo said the clinic in his ward had gone for four years without running water.
He said there was a dam near the clinic and there was need for pipes and an engine to draw water to the clinic.
Clr Nkomo said patients visiting the clinic had to bring their own water while the clinic staff were collecting their water from community boreholes.
He said the situation was tough for some patients who had to walk over 10 kilometres to reach the nearest clinic.
“The clinic has operated for four years without water as there is no borehole but we hope that the situation will improve soon since it’s been noted that if the problem isn’t rectified then the clinic will be closed.
“In cases where community boreholes aren’t working, the clinic staff members collect their water from rivers. Expecting mothers rely on their relatives to provide them with water during their stay at the waiting mothers’ shelter but it’s extremely difficult for those who are situated far from the clinic,” he said.
Clr Toni Mlotshwa, of Tshankwa area which has one of the worst affected health centres, Sikhathini Clinic, said the enwgine which used to pump water to the clinic from a nearby dam broke down two years back.
He said villagers were now collecting water from the community boreholes and rivers which they stored in tanks at the clinic for use by patients.
Clr Mlotshwa said the water was, however, not readily available at all times and was not regarded as safe to be used at a health facility.
Online Reporter