Minister makes impromptu hospital visit

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa yesterday made an unannounced visit to Victoria Falls District Hospital to check on the state of affairs.

Dr Parirenyatwa was, however, impressed by what he saw during the impromptu visit and declared that the hospital met the government’s expectations.

He said the hospital had received enough equipment through a $100 million Chinese loan facility to cushion the health system in the country.

Renovations at the health institution started in the build-up to the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly held in Victoria Falls.

Dr Parirenyatwa visited the kitchen, laundry room and all wards including the maternity wing and the out-patients department where he talked to patients and assured them of quality service. “Your hospital and laundry are clean, that’s very good and commendable. We came unannounced but everything is in order and this is better than other hospitals such as Chinhoyi,” he said.

He said the hospital, which recently received an ambulance from government, was well-organised.

“This place is well-organised as you can see it has undergone extensive renovations particularly the administration block under the government targeted approach. If you look at the beds, theatre and x-ray they are in order while the staff is full of enthusiasm and available for duty since we came unannounced,” said the minister.

“I’m generally impressed and all they need here is more staff to be able to utilise available equipment. As you heard, some of their needs are on accommodation for staff. We’ll definitely do something because they should be housed nearby.”

The hospital has a mobile X-Ray and an ultra sound scan machine which, however, is not in use as the institution is waiting for training of experts.

Victoria Falls District Hospital administrator Leona Mavhudzi said shortage of accommodation for staff and security problems were some of the challenges they faced.

“Our biggest challenge is security because we couldn’t finish constructing the precast wall and people cut across the hospital willy-nilly. We also have a shortage of accommodation for staff members. There’s space for expansion and all we need is assistance. We also need a blood bank because people have to travel long distances for blood,” she said.