Some wards at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo are in urgent need of bedding and other resources.
The situation was revealed during a tour of the hospital by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, who were assessing the state of the institution.
Speaking to the delegation at Khumalo Ward, Sister-in-Charge Alvin Mukosho said the ward has a capacity of 98 beds, yet currently accommodates 161 patients.
“We admit patients from all over Zimbabwe. At the moment, we have 161 patients, but our facility can only hold 98. It is difficult to manage, but we do our best,” said Sr Mukosho.
She explained that due to the shortage of beds, the ward has had to implement a team nursing approach, with one nurse responsible for a specific number of patients.
“When it comes to sleeping arrangements, some patients sleep on the floor, others on mattresses, and some on bed bases. It’s far from ideal, but we make it work,” she said.
Vice President Mohadi appealed to stakeholders and organisations to support the hospital with much-needed resources.
He praised the dedication of the staff working under such challenging conditions.
“The staff here is working very hard. They are doing the best they can under extremely difficult circumstances, with very limited resources. It’s a sterling effort. Some of the inmates are quite violent, as the staff has explained,” he said.
He noted that the lack of medication to calm aggressive patients can turn wards into no-go areas, adding that the Ministry was working to ensure a steady supply of medicines to manage patients effectively.
“There is also a garden here which could benefit from partnerships. If properly supported, it could improve food security and even generate income to help the hospital,” he added.
Mohadi also highlighted the need to modernise the hospital’s infrastructure.
“We saw that the buildings are quite old and many are in a state of disrepair. While some rehabilitation is underway, the pace needs to increase. With adequate resources, the facility could get a proper facelift,” he said.
He further suggested that, where possible, a rehabilitation centre should be established away from the main hospital to provide a more suitable environment for recovering patients.
“If circumstances allowed, having a separate rehabilitation centre would be beneficial. It would be a sign of progress for patients to move from an intensive facility to another space that reflects their recovery,” he said.
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today