Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), Tuesday, donated hospital equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth US$82 000 to the Bulawayo City Council-run Thorngrove Infectious Disease Hospital.
OSISA executive director Siphosami Malunga, in his virtual address while handing over the donation, noted that the Open Society Foundation globally has invested a total of US$150 million towards the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The consignment donated by OSISA to Thorngrove Hospital consists of 30 hospital beds, mattresses and lockers, 10 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and mattresses, 10 intravenous drip rod drops, five resuscitation trolleys; five tables and chairs; 30 hospital cardiac tables; 600 medical gloves and 2000 medical gowns.
Malunga stated that the resources are meant to assist the local government in fighting a potential third wave of the pandemic especially considering the country’s proximity to South Africa.
“Zimbabwe, because of its proximity to South Africa incurred a spike in cases due during the second wave due to the detection of a new variant. OSISA thus believes that interventions will go a long way in saving lives and complementing the efforts of Governments and other non-state actors all of whom are actively fighting to stem the tide of this pandemic,” he said.
Malunga noted that the assistance that their organisation is rendering is not only limited to the health sector but is also extedned to media organisations covering the pandemic, frontline workers as well as vulnerable groups in society.
“The investments we are doing have included but not been limited to investments in information dissemination in awareness raising about the pandemic and how to prevent it, strengthening access to information about testing and treatment for all, mitigating effects of the pandemic particularly on those living in the margins of society and providing support to investigative journalism on various issues including mismanagement of health funds during this crisis. We have also sought to reach out to vulnerable groups including the elderly, people living with disability, women and children, health workers and frontline workers,” he said.
“Of further concern is the continued violation of fundamental human rights under the guise of enforcing regulations under the guise of enforcing lockdown measures. Noting this dire and unturnable situation. We implore governments to ensure that as efforts are made to enforce regulative measures, human rights are protected and even expanded given that by its very nature the pandemic has resulted in the restriction of rights.”
The Mayor of Bulawayo Councillor Solomon Mguni expressed gratitude over the donation, adding that the unity of purpose shown by various partners has assisted the city extensively.
“We have had enough personal protective clothing and hospital equipment to cater to the admitted and patients at home. The pandemic posed a number of challenges for health care workers and the government alike. The challenges which were faced by BCC and many other local authorities was the availability of enough hospital beds and equipment to cater for the increasing number of cases,” Cllr Mguni said.
