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Kudzai Chikiwa, Chronicle Reporter
MPILO Central Hospital in Bulawayo has dismissed social media reports that its doctors are on strike and disowned a Twitter account peddling the falsehood.
Hospital authorities said the health institution does not have a Twitter account.
Twitter was awash with messages purporting that the hospital is now attending to emergency cases only as doctors are on strike.
In an interview, the clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the account was fake and is meant to create panic among stakeholders.
“This is a fake account. It is not a reflection of the situation at our hospital. We do not have an official Twitter account. I tweet as Solwayo Ngwenya if there is anything official,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said there is no strike at Mpilo as doctors are reporting for duty every day.
“All our doctors are reporting for duty and no one has threatened to strike as these reports are saying. If patients come to the hospital we attend them to our maximum capacity using available resources. It is our duty to give them the health service,” he said.
He said Government through NatPharm availed medicines and the drug situation is improving.
Dr Ngwenya said Mpilo also uses hospital funds to buy medication to supplement those provided by Government.
“We cannot say that we are there but our situation is improving. We don’t solely depend on Government but we have moved a step further to using our own funds to supplement what we are allocated,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said the hospital is attending to all cases. “It is not true that we are now attending to emergency cases only, this is a public hospital and we are going to attend to everyone,” he said.
Dr Ngwenya said he hopes that challenges in the health sector will not affect the hospital’s operations.
On Wednesday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo dismissed claims of a strike by senior doctors at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.
Dr Moyo said Government secured US$1 million for the procurement of essential medicines and equipment needed in public hospitals.
The Health Minister said apart from the US$1 million, Government had made arrangements with a company that will bring medicines and surgical supplies with the ministry paying through RTGS dollars. — @tamary98.
Online Reporter