This marks a turnaround in the erosion of work ethics and professionalism that reached a peak not only at the hospital but in all government departments during the bad governance of the past decade or so.
“The hospital belongs to the community and it is important for the community to see and appreciate what we are doing to make the hospital more friendly. We also want the community to feel that they own this hospital,” said Lawrence Mantiziba, the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.
During the engagement week, members of staff explained to the public the services that the hospital offers. “Staff will also take time to listen to complaints and contributions in order to build the hospital‘s image,” he said.
The hospital recently embarked on customer care training for all staff members including general workers.
“The economic meltdown triggered a mass exodus of Zimbabwe’s experienced health workers. A number of new health workers who replaced these experienced workers had not received training in customer care. From then on we developed a crop of health workers who never received training in patients’ rights and customer satisfaction,” said Mantiziba.
The programme comes against the background of serious allegations of drug theft, defrauding of patients and ill-treatment of patients before his appointment as CEO.
The programme culminated in a one day clean up on Thursday where the community, leaders and the corporate world participated. The hospital also celebrated the 50th anniversary of its School of Midwifery.
Since taking over the administration of the government hospital in October last year, Mantiziba has saved it from collapse by embarking on resource mobilisation strategies to revamp the dilapidated infrastructure as well as address challenges of acute shortage of drugs ,medical sundries, food, linen and over crowding.
Early next month, the hospital will host a fundraising dinner ceremony in Harare.
Mpilo Central Hospital was built in 1957.It is the largest quaternary referral hospital in southern Zimbabwe catering for referral patients in Bulawayo Metropolitan province, Matabeleland North and the Midlands as well as referrals from Matabeleland South and Masvingo provinces on such cases as paediatrics, oncology as well as ear, nose and throat surgeries.
Post published in: News