Suburb clinic downgraded to ‘baby clinic’

Blessed Moyo, Sunday News Reporter

A year after it opened its doors to the public, Emganwini Satellite Clinic in Bulawayo has become a shadow of its intended self, as it has been forced to limit its activities as it is reportedly functioning without running water.

The clinic which was constructed using Constituency Development Funds, was initially meant to cater to the entire Emganwini community but has since downgraded to a “baby clinic” due to limited resources.

The facility’s inability to provide comprehensive healthcare has left the community frustrated as they had envisaged that the clinic would see them walk shorter distances to access healthcare.

Yesterday a residents’ meeting which was scheduled at the facility to discuss the clinic’s failure to fully operationalise did not take off as all the invited stakeholders failed to turn up.

In an interview with Sunday News, the Emganwini Residents chairperson, Mr Dickson Munkuli, revealed that the Bulawayo City Council had promised to install water pipes at the clinic.

However, failure to do so left the facility without this essential service, despite having a water tank on site.

“The council had promised to install water pipes at the clinic since its opening last year but we have not seen any action being taken to fix the water issue,” said Mr Munkuli.

The critical water shortage at the clinic has reached alarming levels, compelling nurses and patients to solicit water from nearby homes, while others use a distant borehole for use at the toilet, exposing the dire consequences of the facility’s neglected infrastructure.

A resident, Mr Sibangilizwe Mpofu said the elderly and those with disabilities are now being forced to walk long distances to the borehole to fetch water for toilet use whenever they visit the clinic.

“I once came here with my child who was sick and when the minor needed to use the toilet we were told that the toilet did not have water so we were forced to go and get some water from the borehole a distance away from the clinic,” said Mr Mpofu.

This crisis has further raised concerns about hygiene, patient care, and the clinic’s ability to provide basic medical services.

“A person can catch some diseases in the clinic where they are supposed to be treated because of lack of water,” said Mr Mpofu.

Furthermore, the residents lambasted the clinic for neglecting elderly patients due to severe shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment, compromising healthcare services and sparking widespread concern.

“My 45-year-old mother was referred to another clinic due to lack of medication. It’s heartbreaking to see our elderly suffering and the clinic failing to provide medication for the elderly and only to children,” said Miss Nombulelo Ndlovu.