Arundel hospital, a Covid-19 isolation and treatment centre at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) has been turned into a maternity ward, due to an influx of expecting mothers at the hospital.
The facility with links to controversial tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei of Sakunda holdings raised eyebrows when they took over the Old Bartley Memorial block and turned it into a Covid-19 treatment centre last year.
The deal between the health facility and UBH raised concern as it was not put to tender since it involves a public asset.
When a CITE news crew visited the facility on Tuesday, it was observed that the facility had been populated with expecting mothers.
A staff member who spoke to CITE revealed that most women who were referred to the Lady Rodwell maternity hospital were those meant to undergo a C-section delivery or those with complications.
Contacted for a comment, UBH acting chief executive officer, Dr Narcisious Dzvanga, who could not reveal when the decision to change the Covid-19 facility into a maternity ward was taken, said an influx of expecting mothers prompted the decision.
“The overflow of pregnant women forced that decision,” said Dr Dzvanga.
He was however quick to add that in the event of an increase in Covid-19 cases, the expecting mothers will be removed from the facility.
