BULAWAYO’S public health institutions, United Bulawayo
Hospitals (UBH) and Mpilo Central Hospital have reportedly become death traps
after disgruntled nurses deserted the institutions, leaving patients dying
without anyone to attend to them.
UBH is the most affected by the health workers’ strike in
its fourth week as it has been deserted by the entire nursing staff except
supervisors and four registered nurses (RGNs) seconded by the Zimbabwe Prisons
and Correctional Services.
Mpilo is reportedly working with a skeleton staff. UBH is
considering discharging all patients and attending to emergencies only.
Reports also say patients were dying en masse at the two
health institutions, however, Southern Eye yesterday could not readily verify
the alleged high death toll.
UBH chief executive officer, Narcissus Dzvanga yesterday
confirmed the situation and painted a gloomy picture of the state of affairs at
the health institution.
“Yes. That’s true. It’s multifactorial ranging from the
industrial work withdrawal, quarantine, flexi-working hours, transport issues,
fear of the COVID outbreak and the rise in the Bulawayo statistics. This is
very, very sad and unprecedented. We got just four RGNs from Zimbabwe Prisons
and Correctional Services and expecting a few from the Zimbabwe National Army
as well,” Dzvanga said.
He appealed to Red Cross and St Johns and other nursing
agencies to send volunteers to help with menial duties.
“These have to be inducted on the COVID-19 bio-hazard
before they even get to the wards. The hospitals have become like a lion’s den
so to speak. We do have sufficient personal protective equipment, but need to
replenish these frequently. The hospital is now going to discharge all the
stable patients and attend to emergencies only,”he said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mpilo acting CEO Solwayo
Ngwenya who said they were trying hard to save lives.
“We have been giving service with about 50% attendance for
some weeks now. Nurses are stretched, but really trying very hard to save
lives. We are very grateful to those who are coming to work,” Ngwenya said.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) president, Enock Dongo
yesterday confirmed that nurses had deserted the health institutions. “It’s true,” Dongo said without elaborating.
The exact number of health workers who came into contact
with him has not been established.
Recently, 68 health workers at the hospital were forced to
self-isolate after a 79-year-old woman who tested positive died at the referral
facility.
Last month, 14 nurses at Mpilo, who were part of 197
isolating at home, tested positive to COVID-19 after coming into contact with
infected patients. Newsday
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