adminJoseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
Beatrice Rural District Hospital is operating without an ambulance though it serves a community of 31 088 people and frequently treats accident victims.
The absence of an ambulance and the extra work the hospital is called upon to perform came to light last week when 27 people, who were injured when a Harare-bound Zupco bus veered off the road and overturned near Beatrice.
The road is narrow around the 57km peg where the accident occurred and is usually slippery when it is raining, hence the high number of accidents.
The hospital is surrounded by farms and located about 54km south-west of Harare on the main Harare–Masvingo road. The hospital is trying to use a 20-year-old Mazda B1600, which constantly breaks down.
The local National Assembly member Cde Munyaradzi Kashambe is appealing for help for the hospital.
“We are appealing to the corporate world, the Government, NGOs and individuals to donate an ambulance to the hospital, which is strategically located along Harare-Beitbridge highway.
“The ambulance will assist in ferrying those mainly involved in road accidents along the highway so that they get immediate attention.
‘‘A number of people are losing precious life, hence there is need to look into the issue as a matter urgency. A new ambulance costs anything above US$20 000,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro said the ministry would treat the issue as an urgent matter.
“Such a busy hospital cannot operate without an efficient and reliable ambulance. We are looking into the matter to ensure we secure an ambulance for the hospital,’’ he said.
Online Reporter