Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge residents, among them businessmen operating under the banner “Beitbridge Progressive Forum”, have undertaken to mobilise resources to boost service delivery at the local district hospital.
The 140-bed district hospital is a referral centre for the 250,000 local population from more than 17 primary healthcare clinics. In addition, it is also a referral for at least 15,000 people who pass through the town in transit daily, as well as several others from neighbouring districts, including 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 the country’s busiest port of entry, as well as increased annual population growth.
Beitbridge Progressive Forum interim chairperson, Mr Kudakwashe Chasauka, said they decided to pool resources after engagements with the facility’s authorities recently.
He said the efforts were part of complementing efforts by the Government in providing quality primary healthcare services. Mr Chasauka said they stepped in after noting some service delivery challenges which may be fixed on a short-term basis during the winter season.
He said the residents will continue to mobilise resources to ensure there are improved services at the facility.
“We have been made aware of challenges to do with broken windows and doors in all the wards, and we feel we can fix this immediately since it doesn’t require so many resources,” he said.
“So far, some community members have donated window panes and door handles, which have been fitted in some wards, and work is pending in some sections.
“The hospital needs some essential equipment, including heaters in critical areas like maternity and children’s wards, heating urns for patient bathing, kettles for warm drinks, and nebulisers for respiratory patients. We have started mobilising funds to buy these items, guided by the local health experts.”
Mr Chasauka mentioned that the residents recognise the importance of primary healthcare services and hence their move to collaborate with the Government.
He said they had managed to repair broken windows and doors at the health institution after receiving a donation of 35 window panes of various sizes and 48 window locks.
Mr Chasauka said some community members were volunteering their labour to carry out repairs at the hospital under the supervision of authorities.
“We also intend to buy aluminium doors for the male and children’s wards, where we noted there is an urgent need,” said Mr Chasauka.
He also expressed gratitude to all members of the community who are contributing funds and other resources to address service delivery issues at the hospital and called for more support.
The move comes a few months after the donation of a solarised borehole and a water tank to the same facility by the Cross Border Transporters working under the banner Cross Borders for Economic Development.
The hospital has been receiving support from the community, and a few years ago, Friends of Beitbridge Hospital, which include community leaders and businessmen, mobilised R200,000 to help restore quality health services at the hospital. The money was spent on fixing ambulances and three service vehicles which had been grounded.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Sleiman Kwidini, said during a working visit to the hospital recently that the Government has undertaken to upgrade the Beitbridge District Hospital to meet the growing service delivery needs in line with the town’s population growth and its transformation into a modern city.
He said the area has tremendously developed in terms of population and infrastructure growth, and hence there is a need to expand health service facilities.
“We appreciate the workload and operational challenges at this hospital, and hence, as the Government, we are going to urgently upgrade and expand the infrastructure and manpower at this hospital,” said Deputy Minister Kwidini.
“So far, in terms of medicines, it is pleasing to note that the local pharmacy has between 55 and 60% of the basic medication for any medical facility.
“We have also facilitated that more medication and consumables are delivered to this key health institution as a matter of urgency.”
He said the expansion of the hospital will also see more material and human resources being deployed to Beitbridge soon.
The Deputy Minister said the hospital will be upgraded in a phased approach.
He said already the Government, working with other partners, has completed building a bigger pharmacy at the hospital, which will be opened for business any time soon.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi