Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, Health and Gender Editor
VICE-PRESIDENT Kembo Mohadi has called for the establishment of a dedicated drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centre, separate from Ingutsheni Central Hospital, arguing that the psychiatric institution was never designed to handle the mounting crisis of drug-related cases.
He made the remarks yesterday during a familiarisation tour of Ingutsheni, the country’s largest psychiatric referral hospital, where he was assessing the institution’s capacity and challenges.
His visit came at a time when the country is grappling with an unprecedented surge in drug and substance abuse, particularly among young people, which the Government has described as a security threat.
“I have come to witness for myself what is obtaining here as we cater for the most vulnerable people — those with mental disorders, referred from across the country. There are also those affected by drugs who come here, but I don’t believe that this place should be a rehabilitation centre,” said VP Mohadi.
“That is not what it was established for. We should come up with a rehabilitation centre that is going to cater for people discharged from this hospital before they are reintegrated into society.”
Ingutsheni, established in 1908, was originally designed to cater for long-term psychiatric patients. Over the past decade, however, it has been overwhelmed by admissions linked to drug and substance abuse, a trend fuelled by the proliferation of cheap illicit substances such as crystal methamphetamine, mutoriro, codeine-based cough syrups and cannabis.
VP Mohadi, who was accompanied by Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, said the Government is committed to constructing a new rehabilitation facility to ensure substance abuse patients receive targeted support.
“It is something that we are going to look into. We will try to get some funding for it. As our budget will be done in the next two and a half months, we will try to squeeze something in and convince Treasury to prioritise rehabilitation services,” he said.
Ingutsheni officials told the Vice President that wards were severely congested due to a spike in drug-related admissions, alongside permanent psychiatric patients who require lifelong care.
VP Mohadi implored local stakeholders, including Bulawayo South legislator Cde Raj Modi, to collaborate with the Government in mobilising resources for the proposed centre.
“This is your facility, and it is under the jurisdiction of the people of Bulawayo. You must make it a point that we do something about it before we look into the Treasury. Government has a lot under its mandate, so in your capacity as MP meet us halfway and we will also do our bit,” he said.
VP Mohadi also toured various hospital wards, office spaces and income-generating projects such as poultry and agriculture, stressing the importance of partnerships to strengthen these initiatives. While commending the hospital for having adequate essential medicines, he acknowledged that its century-old infrastructure was deteriorating, with wooden floors and outdated systems showing signs of severe wear.
The hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr Nemache Mawere, said the lack of a dedicated rehabilitation facility in Bulawayo had left Ingutsheni carrying a burden it was never intended to bear.
“A drug rehabilitation facility was designed in St Luke’s II ward, and a bill of quantities is ready. Funding was promised, but we are still waiting for the project to take off,” he said.
Dr. Mawere said the plan is to have a facility for 20 acute patients, followed by a hostel-type halfway house in Lobengula, and finally community care at Emakhandeni Halfway Home. However, all these require refurbishment and funding.
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