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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
THE business community has been urged to offer assistance to improve the state of the country’s health institutions to ensure access to quality health care for the people.
Speaking during a graduation ceremony of nurses at Gwanda Provincial Hospital’s Gwanda Multidisciplinary Training School last Friday, PPC Colleen Bawn factory general manager, Dr Ngangezwe Khumalo, said it is not the duty of Government only to develop the health sector.
“Development of health institutions, training of labour in the health sector and development of staff isn’t the duty of Government only but various stakeholders.
“I would like to call upon all members of the business community whether small or big to contribute towards developing our health institutions. If we partner with Government we can upgrade our hospitals to international standards because one way or the other we will need services of a hospital,” he said.
“As a company we have taken the initiative to improve conditions at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital. We recently worked on Inkonyane Children’s Ward and we have also partnered with the hospital on several projects. We will continue with this intervention as it is our duty to give back to the community that continues to support us.”
Dr Khumalo said it was important for trainee nurses to undergo effective training as the health sector was crucial.
Speaking at the same event, Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director, Dr Ruth Chikodzore said the province has four nursing schools at Gwanda Provincial Hospital, Tshelanyemba Mission Hospital, Maphisa District Hospital and St Anne’s Brunapeg Mission Hospital. Dr Chikodzore said all were faced with resource constraints and were operating with limited staff giving them a 31 percent vacancy rate.
She also said the nursing schools do not have computer laboratories, budgets to run the schools and have limited office and classroom space.
“All our health institutions within the province are faced with a number of challenges, the common one being inadequate space. Having the assistance of various stakeholders will go a long way in addressing these challenges.
“Our nursing schools also have challenges for example the Gwanda Multidisciplinary Training School is operating with only two computers. The school also doesn’t have a budget and therefore relies on the money allocated to the hospital,” she said.
Also speaking at the same event senior tutor- in-charge, Mrs Idzai Beatrice Matsheza, said their training programmes continue to suffer due to transport challenges as students fail to reach attachment points and tutors fail to conduct supervisory follow ups.
She said lessons were also affected by limited learning space. — @DubeMatutu.
Online Reporter