Pregnant mothers said the hospital, which acts as a provincial referral centre, has become a ‘death trap’. They are even prepared to raise the $20 ambulance hire fee rather than risk their baby’s life at Mutare hospital in the hands of irresponsible staff.
Women allege that pregnant women give birth on their own, while some newly born babies are dying on the floor due to negligence.
Mavis Bwawo (23) of Doradombo Communal lands who delivered at the hospital recently said she was never attended and eventually gave birth on her own. Another mother, Marita Dube of Hobhouse high density suburb said: “It`s by grace of God that my baby is alive because I was not attended to by any staff. I was alone and I prayed to God to intervene. The staff is so rude.”
She was given a sheet stained with blood to cover her baby but she refused as this could have endangered the life of her baby.
It costs more than $300 deliver at a private clinic while government hospitals are the only hope for poor people.
Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Tapiwa Murambi, would neither confirm nor deny the reports but urged patients to report any complaints to his office. He promised to investigate all reports and bring the culprits to book.
A visit by this reporter revealed heaps of dirty linen and a bad smell at the hospital. Staff interviewed complained of poor working conditions and remuneration. They said this has resulted in mass exodus of staff to neighbouring countries.
Post published in: Health