The cars were donated by the government during the run-up to the March 29 elections. This comes at the time when the two institutions face acute food and drugs shortages, all blamed on government under-funding and neglect.Health professionals vowed not to resume duties until the cars promised by the government are delivered to them.
They claimed that all the vehicles were grabbed by top hospital officials and senior doctors who were already using other new government cars.The working conditions at the hospitals are deplorable as some of us have to work double shifts for very low salaries, while the senior doctors are earning better salaries and driving luxury government cars, said one junior doctor at Mpilo hospital.
The striking health personnel confirmed that there was a serious shortage of drugs and food at the two hospitals.The situation is very depressing as patients are dying daily because of starvation. They sometimes receive a cup of tea without bread. Patients who are meant to go for operations are being turned away as there is no medication to carry out the procedure, said one nurse based at UBH hospital.At UBH hospital a disease outbreak is looming as student nurses who reside in the dormitories are cooking food in unhygienic conditions.
Efforts to get a comment from the Minister of Health, David Parirenyatwa were fruitless as his mobile was unreachable. In recent years, the country’s health sector has been reeling from the effects of the brain drain, as most health professionals have left for greener pastures outside the country.
Post published in: News