NGOMAHURU Psychiatric Hospital in Masvingo is running with
only 17 psychiatry nurses against the expected establishment of 60 affecting
operations and posing challenges that have seen some inmates attacking nurses.
A visit to the institution by the Chronicle on Thursday
revealed that more inmates, both men and women, are being attended to by less
than five nurses per shift.
The situation is worsened by the fact that of the nurses on
duty at each given time, only a few are trained in psychiatry, posing a
challenge on the management of inmates.
The institution’s matron, Mr Thomas Hwami Mahwehwe, said
the situation was unbearable.
He appealed to Government to unfreeze some posts so that
the hospital can have more staff.
“We are operating with only 17 nurses and yet we should be
60 of us here,” said Mr Mahwehwe. “We are seriously understaffed that we are overwhelmed by
the situation here. This is evident when we receive hyperactive inmates who
need continuous monitoring.”
He said the institution sometimes receives many inmates yet
the resources are inadequate.
“We continue to get inmates from Masvingo General Hospital
despite lack of capacity to deal with a big number of psychiatric patients. As
if that is not enough, Parirenyatwa and Harare Hospitals keep referring some
patients here and that is too much of a load.
“Some of the inmates are violent. Last week, we had to send
one nurse on sick leave after he was attacked on his right eye by an inmate who
is violent,” Mr Mahwehwe said.
Reached for comment, Masvingo Provincial Medical Director
(PMD) Dr Amadeaus Shamu said the situation was unfortunate.
“It is what the Government has recommended despite the
challenges faced by those working there. We have basic training conducted for
registered general nurses willing to partake in psychiatry.
“The training is done at Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo
and the graduates are taken to Ngomahuru to complement qualified psychiatric
nurses,” he said. Chronicle
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