adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
MPILO Central Hospital – the biggest referral centre in Matabeleland – has suspended all surgical procedures owing to a critical shortage of oxygen kits. This is not the first time the hospital has suspended surgical operations as it did so in May last year after a critical shortage of drugs and operating consumables – leaving scores of patients stranded.
A man whose wife was supposed to undergo a surgical operation at the hospital yesterday told Chronicle that they had been informed of the shortage, hours before going for theatre. “My wife was supposed to undergo a critical operation yesterday (Saturday). But when we were ready for theatre, we were told that it could not happen. The excuse they gave us was that there was no oxygen,” said the man who requested anonymity.
The infuriated husband blasted Mpilo saying it should put its house in order and prioritise the lives of its patients.
“It’s very frustrating as lives can be lost unnecessarily. It’s so painful to be told that an operation has been suspended when you know that a life is solely dependent on it. They can’t just play with human lives like that. How can a referral hospital have a shortage of such small items,” he said.
The man said his wife was later transferred to United Bulawayo Hospitals where the operation will take place.
Contacted for comment, hospital officials played a cat and mouse game in responding to the matter.
Mpilo chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba, said he was not in a position to comment on the issue as he was on leave. “I’m on leave and I don’t want to waste your time. I don’t have information on what’s happening on the ground. You can contact the hospital’s clinical director Dr Ndebele,” said Dr Mantiziba.
The hospital’s clinical director, Dr Wedu Ndebele, was evasive, saying he was not authorised to comment.
“I’m not the right person to comment on the issue, you can contact the chief executive officer,” he said.
After being told Dr Mantiziba was the one who referred Chronicle to him, Dr Ndebele stuck to his guns. “I don’t know why he would refer you to me. I’m not authorised to do so. He knows why I can’t do that. You can try contacting our operations director, Moyo, but you probably won’t get through to her cellphone on a weekend,” he said.
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