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Gibson Mhaka
BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) councillors have expressed concern over staffing levels at council clinics, a development they say was compromising access to healthcare services in the city.
The local authority runs 19 clinics and one hospital, the Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital. According to the latest council minutes, Ward 9 Councillor Donaldson Mabuto expressed concern about the situation at council clinics, saying it compromised service delivery.
“Councillor D Mabuto raised concern on staffing levels at Council Clinics. Residents had started complaining about poor service delivery at Council clinics. He referred to an incident which happened at Mpopoma Clinic. Residents demonstrated and the Zimbabwe Republic Police had to intervene.
“The clinic had a staff complement of 11 nurses. Currently, the clinic has only eight nursing staff. Council clinics should have security guards at all times. Authority had been given by the Central Government for local authorities to start recruitments,” the minutes read in part.
He also raised the issue of drug and medicine shortages in council clinics. In his view, the council should prioritise providing essential drugs and medicines.
He added that Results-Based Financing (RBF) funding had been used to construct a pharmacy at Mpopoma Clinic. He said the building had long been completed, and residents wanted to know when it would be opened and commissioned.
Ward 24 Cllr Tavengwa Zidya, noted that most residents were underprivileged and could not afford clinic fees. He wanted to know if such residents were being treated at council clinics. Some residents provided wrong addresses at clinics.
He also requested that residents without clinic fees should provide identification and proof of residence. In response, Ward 23 Cllr Ntombizodwa Khumalo highlighted that council clinics had staffing challenges. Of late, there had been high staff turnover due to poor remuneration.
She called on the council to review the general welfare of all council employees.
Online Reporter