Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
Service delivery has begun to improve at Beitbridge District Hospital, where the Government has undertaken to upgrade the facility to meet the growing health needs in line with the town’s population growth and its transformation into a modern city.
Through collaborations and partnerships, the Government has mobilised critical resources and consumables at the 170-bed health facility, which serves Beitbridge, Gwanda South, Mwenezi, Chiredzi, part of Mberengwa districts, and the transit population. The hospital also acts as a referral centre for more than 250,000 people from over 17 primary health care clinics.
In addition, the hospital has received an automated antiretroviral (ARV) drug dispensing machine, currently being installed, which will be fully operational by the end of this month.
District Medical Officer, Dr Lenos Samhere, said the automated ARV machine will provide convenient services and privacy to patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) around the clock.
“We received this machine from the Aids Health Care Foundation (AHF), who are helping us to set up our Opportunistic Infection clinic, which will be open in the next few weeks. This automated ARV dispensing machine is the first of its kind, and we are going to be a centre of excellence in terms of HIV/Aids treatment in the country,” said Dr Samhere.
He was speaking during a tour of the hospital by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe, on Thursday. The Minister was accompanied by Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi, Beitbridge West legislator Thusani Ndou, Beitbridge Mayor Councillor Peter Mafuta, and other senior Government officials, who visited the hospital to assess progress on Government interventions and expansion of the facility.
Although the town has grown significantly in terms of population and infrastructure, the hospital is still operating with a 1990s staff establishment, leaving human and material resources overstretched, particularly given its border-town location.
Dr Samhere noted that since patients began paying for services last year, the hospital has been able to stock drugs sufficient for up to six months.
“These are critical drugs and consumables for us to respond to any kind of emergencies. We have deliveries in the maternity ward averaging about 350 babies per month, of which 16 percent (56 babies) are delivered via Caesarean section. Our X-ray machine, dental unit, and eye clinic are now working to capacity, and the Government is renovating our laboratory to meet service delivery needs. We are only left with a few fittings before it opens to the public,” he said.
However, he highlighted challenges with autoclaving services (sterilisation) in the theatre, as the ageing machine frequently breaks down. Equipment is currently being taken to Gwanda for sterilisation three times a week at a cost of US$92 per trip (US$276 weekly), which he said was unsustainable.
Dr Samhere also stressed the urgent need to address the state of infrastructure at the theatre, mortuary, and incinerator, which have outlived their lifespan.
Minister Nguluvhe said he had noted the operational challenges at the hospital and would be visiting all major hospitals in Matabeleland South to assess operations ahead of the National Independence celebrations in Maphisa, Matobo District this year.
“We are pleased to note the improvements at this hospital since our last visit in October last year. As Government, we have made huge interventions here as we implement the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). Public health care is one of the key services we want to see improve in both urban and rural settlements. With regards to Beitbridge Hospital, it is prudent that we lobby for the deployment of specialist services considering its location and workload in the North to South Corridor, he said.
“ I am pleased to see the level of commitment by the health staff here. They need our full support from Government, the community, and the corporate world,” he said.
The Minister added that the expansion of the hospital will see more material and human resources deployed to Beitbridge soon, emphasising the importance of equipping the facility with critical manpower and modern equipment to handle the pressures associated with its strategic location.
