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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
THERE has been significant improvement in the health care services being offered in the country over the years, a sign that the Government is making progress in improving service delivery in the sector, an official has said.
Speaking in an interview during a visit to Gwanda Provincial Hospital on Thursday, acting chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care, Dr Peter Mataruse said there was an improvement mainly in the drug supply in most hospitals in the country.
He said the Health Levy Fund from Government had also improved operations in hospitals but his committee will lobby for an increase in the funds allocated towards the health sector. The committee is conducting a fact finding meeting at mental institutions and health centres across the country.
“From the assessment we have made I am happy with literally all hospitals in the country. There is improvement in drug supply although we have not reached the level that we want but it’s better than before. Even here they have shortages of some of the essential drugs but there is an improvement.
“When comparing the health care services that were being offered in the country this time last year and today there is great improvement. As a committee we are happy but we will continue to push the ministry to continue doing more. There is a need to improve supply of drugs, equipment and linen supply among other things,” he said.
Dr Mataruse said some of the areas of concern at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital were that the institution did not have resident specialists and rely on general surgeons and gynaecologists from Bulawayo who visit maybe twice a week.
He said it was a cause for concern that the hospital’s eye clinic was not functional because it does not have water reticulation.
He said the water reticulation issue has to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Dr Mataruse said there was also a need for a proper provincial hospital to be built as the current hospital was too small for the services being offered
“From our assessment we noted that psychiatric services being offered at Gwanda Provincial Hospital are reasonable and the services have decentralised to the clinics as mentally challenged patients can access medication for clinics. There is, however, a need for special programmes for adolescents and infants,” he said.
Gwanda Provincial Hospital acting medical superintendent Dr Mthandazo Mabhanga said the hospital has a shortage of medication for some mental health conditions. He said some of the staff had limited knowledge on the management and care of mental health patients.
He said all rural health centres in Matabeleland South Province were being manned by general nurses that did not have specialist training in mental health.
Dr Mabhanga said some patients with mental health systems were not coming for treatment due to myths that the condition was caused by evil spirits.
Gwanda Provincial Hospital acting administrator, Mr Chamunogwa Chibadi said other challenges faced by the hospital included shortage of doctors, shortage of essential hospital equipment, obsolete infrastructure, limited space, shortage of drugs and limited funds.
The committee has engaged in a nationwide exercise to assess mainly the psychiatric services being offered by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in particular to adolescents, infants and also how the ministry is delivering its mandate in terms of staff availability, finances, equipment and maternity services being offered. The committee is also inspecting the state of infrastructure in hospitals.
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Bongani Ndlovu
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