Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
GWANDA residents have donated materials worth about R25 000 to Gwanda Provincial Hospital to assist in the fight against Covid-19.
Speaking at the hospital on Friday during the handover of the donation which comprised Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), digital thermometers, cleaning detergents and hand sanitisers one of the organisers, Mr Tshemisi Phiri said locals in Gwanda and those based in the diaspora mobilised resources to assist in the fight against the pandemic.
“We came together under the group name Gwanda Finest after realising there was a gap here at the hospital in terms of protective clothing and other resources needed in the fight against Covid-19.
“This group comprises former residents of Gwanda who are now based in the diaspora or other areas, residents of Gwanda, former workers at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital and business-people.
“We are trying to augment Government’s efforts in fighting this pandemic and we also responded to Government’s call for other stakeholders to come in and assist.
“With this donation our health care workers will be protected while doing their work. This is our first step and we hope to mobilise more resources which will assist in the fight against Covid-19. We managed to mobilise about R25 000 and bought PPEs which comprise 75 face shields, 900 surgical masks, five digital thermometers, two hands-free sanitiser dispensers, cleaning detergents and hand sanitisers,” he said.
Speaking after receiving the donation, Gwanda Provincial Hospital acting medical superintendent who is also acting Gwanda District Medical Officer, Dr Blessed Gwarimbo said the donation would go a long way in addressing the challenges the health institution was facing with equipment in the fight against Covid-19.
He said the hospital had received its first Covid-19 patient and more were expected hence the need to be well prepared.
“We would like to thank Gwanda Finest for this donation as it will help us in a great way. Companies and various individuals have been coming in with various donations to assist the hospital in the fight against Covid-19.
“This has helped in a great way and we expect more intervention. As an institution we are always on high alert for Covid-19 cases. We had also anticipated an increase in the number of deportees and we had tightened our measures to deal with Covid-19 patients.
“Our isolation centre at the hospital has been renovated and is ready for use. So far we have one patient at the isolation centre who is in a stable condition.
“She is a returnee from South Africa and she tested positive at Esikhoveni Training Centre quarantine facility but we then moved her here as she is from Gwanda.
“We have successfully managed to train our staff here at the hospital on how to handle Covid-19 patients. We still appeal to various stakeholders to assist as we need to increase our stock of PPEs as we anticipate that more cases will be coming in,” he said. @DubeMatutu
Bongani Ndlovu