Bulawayo Hospitals Facing Dire Water Shortage and Medication Crisis
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart expressed deep concern about the dire challenges faced by health institutions in the wake of severe water shortages and a lack of essential medication during his recent tour.
Coltart visited Ingutsheni, Mater Dei, CURE Children’s Hospital, and Mpilo, where he witnessed firsthand how the ongoing water shedding measures announced by the City of Bulawayo had begun to take a toll on the already strained healthcare system.
Speaking after the tour, Mayor Coltart highlighted the urgent need for action.
Deeply Concerned
He stated, “We are deeply concerned as a Council about the impact the shortage of water might have on health institutions, particularly in the face of cholera outbreaks elsewhere in Zimbabwe. The situation in Bulawayo demands immediate attention before it spirals into a catastrophic crisis.”
Among the hospitals visited, Ingutsheni, Bulawayo’s main mental illness referral hospital, was found to be struggling the most. The admission ward, designed for 95 patients, has 159 patients, and has been without water for over 24 hours, leaving toilets and bathing facilities inoperative.
Coltart discovered that Ingutsheni was facing the most dire situation. The admission ward, known as Khumalo Ward, designed to accommodate 95 patients, was found to be overcrowded, with 159 patients in existence. Shockingly, the ward had been without water for over 24 hours, rendering the toilets and bathing facilities inoperable due to partial blockages and lack of flushing.
Calling all Stakeholders
Furthermore, the hospital has been without adequate supplies of antipsychotic medication for over a year. Mayor Coltart urgently called for immediate action, including the sinking and equipping of a nearby borehole and the immediate supply of medication. The situation requires collective and swift action from all stakeholders to prevent a catastrophic crisis.
Compounding the dire circumstances, Ingutsheni had run out of antipsychotic drugs, which the medical staff described as their “first line of defense.” Astonishingly, the hospital had not received adequate supplies of these essential medications for over a year. The hospital’s annual budget for this medication is set at approximately US$300,000. As the national referral hospital for mental illnesses, Ingutsheni’s lack of antipsychotic medication poses a significant threat to patients’ well-being.
Water Supply Crisis
Taking immediate action, the local council has collaborated with Ingutsheni to ensure that municipal water is urgently supplied to Khumalo Ward. However, with Bulawayo facing an ongoing water supply crisis, a long-term solution is necessary to prevent similar situations from arising again.
Mayor Coltart emphasised the urgency of sinking and equipping a borehole near Khumalo Ward to secure an alternative source of water. He called upon individuals and organisations to assist in raising the necessary funds for this vital project.
Supplies Need
Mayor Coltart also made an urgent plea to the government to arrange the immediate supply of antipsychotic medication to Ingutsheni. Recognizing the hospital’s significance as the primary mental illness treatment center in the country, he stressed the gravity of the situation and the collective responsibility to act swiftly.
The devastating conditions observed during the tour underscore the pressing need for immediate action to avert a full-blown healthcare crisis in Bulawayo. As Mayor Coltart urged all stakeholders to come together, it is evident that a collaborative effort is required to address the water shortage and medication crisis plaguing the city’s hospitals.
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