By Ndumiso Tshuma
Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo has admitted that years of chronic underfunding and resource shortages have forced staff to become “experts in improvising” to keep the health facility running.
Speaking at a handover ceremony on Thursday where Nedbank Zimbabwe donated four orthopaedic beds to the hospital, Chief Medical Officer Dr Narcisius Dzvanga said the new equipment was a rare and much-needed boost for the hospital’s over-stretched orthopaedic unit.
“The donation reminded us of equipment we had long forgotten about,” Dr Dzvanga said. “We have become so used to doing without that when something like this arrives, it feels like an invention. It’s shocking to see because such things had completely disappeared from our system.”
For years, Mpilo staff have worked without essential tools and supplies, with some wards lacking even basic equipment. Dr Dzvanga noted that while patient care remains a top priority, the toll on healthcare workers has been largely overlooked.
“While the focus is always on the patient, we also need to care for the healthcare provider,” he said. “Many are suffering from stress, depression, and dissatisfaction because they are forced to work without the proper tools.”
He called for a balanced approach that protects both patient welfare and staff wellbeing, warning that healthcare workers are also potential patients who may one day rely on the same strained system.
The donation from Nedbank came after appeals to more than 20 companies, most of which failed to respond, according to Dr Dzvanga. He praised the bank’s support but expressed concern over the lack of transparency surrounding the costs of such donations.
“We are told not to disclose the value of donations because it might discourage other potential partners,” he said. “But the parent ministry needs to know what corporate Zimbabwe is contributing.”
Dr Dzvanga stressed that while the new beds were welcome, more equipment — including orthopaedic drills and implants — was urgently needed for theatre operations. Even small gestures, he said, could boost morale.
“Bring us potatoes or vegetables and you’ll see how excited our staff get. Even our nurses jump up with joy knowing the patients will have something extra for lunch,” he said, adding that farmers from nearby Nyamandlovu regularly donate cabbages.
He invited companies and the public to visit the hospital to assess other ways they could help, noting that even repairs to windows, blankets, or curtains would make a difference.
At CITE, we dig deep to preserve the stories that shaped us—ZPRA Liberation Archives, the DRC War, and more. These are not just stories—they’re our roots. We don’t hide them behind paywalls. We rely on you to keep them alive. Click here to donate: https://cite.org.zw/support-local-news/