Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Authorities at the 170-bed Beitbridge district referral hospital are appealing for urgent support to fix the X-ray and autoclaving (sterilising) machines, which are very critical in the facility’s theatre services.
The hospital is a referral centre for the 250 000 local population, from more than 20 primary health care clinics.
In addition, it is also catering for at least 13 000 people who pass through the town in transit daily and several others from neighbouring districts including, Chiredzi, Mberengwa, Gwanda and Mwenezi.
It is understood that although other facets are growing in the town, the health facility is currently operating with a 1990s staff establishment.
This status quo has resulted in human and material resources to cater for patients being overstretched due to its location in Sadc and country’s busiest port of entry and increased annual population growth.
The District Medical Officer, Dr Lenos Samhere told the Matabeleland South Minister of State for provincial affairs and devolution Cde Albert Nguluvhe on Monday during a field visit to infrastructure development in the district that the situation was critical.
The minister visited the area to monitor the implementation of key infrastructure development projects including the transformation of the passport and civil registry office, the repair of major broken bridges, the progress on a proposed airport construction.
“We appreciate the Government’s efforts to improve service delivery at our institution. However, our major challenge at the moment is that we are struggling to offer services in the theatre section after our X-ray and autoclaving machines broke out,” said Dr Samhere.
“We have limited resources to swiftly fix these critical machines. So in the meantime community members have to get assistance in Gwanda (200km away) in terms of x-ray services and we are also taking our medical equipment to the same hospital for sterilisations every few days. This is not sustainable”.
He said the state of affairs was affecting some critical services considering that they need to do surgery on some mothers in the maternity ward and attend to causalities of road traffic accidents which are common on major roads leading to Bulawayo and Harare.
Dr Samhere said they were also struggling with their incinerator which is considering breaking down and needs a complete replacement.
He said revenue streams at the hospital had also taken a knock and hence they are finding it hard to buy consumables.
“At the moment the large chunk of the administration fees we are getting is channelled to the medical care of children under the age of 5 years, senior citizens aged 65 years and above and pregnant mothers. These are getting free medical care,” said Dr Samhere.
“The challenge we are having is resistance by some community members who prefer or want to be treated without any charges. We need help educating people on the importance of paying hospital user fees for us to continue running a viable institution”.
