Ingutsheni financial crisis

Thubelihle Mabhena Chronicle Reporter
INGUTSHENI Central Hospital in Bulawayo is surviving on donations and loans after receiving budgetary support that covers only a month at the beginning of the year.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Naboth Chaibva said they were allocated only $40,000 from the government, yet they required $200,000 per month for the needs of their 600 patients.

“The institution is experiencing tremendous challenges in providing for the needs of patients since the hospital doesn’t charge for its services,’ he said.

Dr Chaibva was speaking on Monday during a handover ceremony where the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church located in Morningside suburb donated 15 litres of cooking oil, 12 kilogrammes of Kapenta and 500 kilogrammes of mealie-meal to the hospital.

He said the institution is in dire need of help as it is presently operating entirely on donations and borrowings.

“The hospital does not generate income and depends on government budgetary funds. So far from January we have been allocated $40,000 and yet the hospital requires $200,000 per month to provide for the wellbeing of patients,” said Dr Chaibva.

“The hospital also survives on donations such as these the AFM church has given. Thank you for the kind gesture we pray that more well-wishers may contribute to the patients.”

AFM pastor Brian Matora said they were compelled to give to the hospital after the congregation read in The Chronicle that the institution was experiencing acute food shortages.

“We decided to give to the hospital after we read in the newspaper that patients were starving. This is an expression of our love and we hope that by God’s grace we’ll donate on a monthly basis if possible,” said Matora.

Two weeks ago, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa expressed concern over critical food and medicine shortages at Ingutsheni Central Hospital, saying the government was struggling to provide for the increasing number of patients at the institution.

Hospital authorities have on several occasions appealed for donations from well-wishers to cater for the needs of patients at the institution.

Dr Parirenyatwa said he was worried about the 600 patients at the institution and described their needs as urgent.

The minister also added that the patients required more food than those at other health institutions due to the medication they take.

He said there is a need for mental patients to eat proper food as that was also part of everyone’s basic human right.