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George Maponga in Masvingo
Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital has established a private ward for patients under a pilot project that is primarily aimed at helping to generate additional revenue for day-to-day operations at the country’s second largest Government-run psychiatric health institution.
The private ward currently has 10 beds and 50 percent of them have since been taken up by patients who are paying US$350 or the equivalent is ZiG using the interbank rate.
Medical Superintendent at the health facility, Dr Parirenyatwa Maramba says the pilot project is a response to feedback from the public, especially relatives of mental health patients.
“Most of our patients here(Ngomahuru) are victims of drug and substance abuse so in our interactions with relatives of some of our patients, they asked us to consider opening a private ward where patients can get specialised care and be able to be rehabilitated quickly,” said Dr Maramba.
“So we started a pilot project with 10 beds in the private ward and five of the beds have already been taken up. We feel this project will also help the institution raise more revenue to be able to take care of the other inmates here.”
He revealed that the money paid by inmates in the private ward covers food, accommodation and laundry, adding that patients who need extra specialist attention will have to foot the bills under a separate arrangement.
Ngomahuru, which is located about 52km south-east of Masvingo, was opened in 1926 and the psychiatric hospital can accommodate around 300 inmates in its three ordinary separate wards.
Online Reporter