Citizens in Chipinge are appealing to wellwishers and authorities to setting up solar power plant or a backup generator at Chikore Hospital to ameliorate problems at the health centre due to incessant power cuts.
Villagers in Chikore has said the continuous power cuts have rendered the mortuary useless, with the deceased now being taken to Chipinge General Hospital as the refrigerators at Chikore are no longer functioning properly to preserve bodies.
Chikore Hospital is a medical institution in Chipinge district and was established by United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe together with its sister-hospital, Mount Selinda.
“The situation at the hospital is so pathetic. It has been worsened by consistent load shedding and acute drug shortages. This has resulted in the mortuary being useless, as people are now being taken to Chipinge General Hospital where things are better. We, as citizens we are appealing to the government and the whole nation to help us ease the situation,” a villager Effort Manono lamented.
He added that the situation at the hospital was affecting the local people, in and around the mission hospital, as it is very costly for them to afford going to Chipinge General Hospital.
“Chipinge General Hospital is a very costly intervention for people in Chikore.”
Chikore Hospital, which was well-known as a referral hospital in Chipinge is now said to have turned into a referring health centre due to various challenges, which include acute shortage of drugs.
Besides the power cuts and shortage of drugs, Manono also revealed that there was no safe water at the hospital, hence patience are expected to walk out of the hospital looking for.
“There is no safe water at the hospital and patients have to bear the brunt of walking to nearby water sources to fetch water for routine use at the health centre.”
Rutendo Bamu
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