Critical shortage of shelter hit Dorset clinic

Dorset clinic houses

Addressing several village heads and Village Development Committee (VIDCO), the institution’s acting Chairperson, Pilate Dzwiti decried the myriad of problems as bedevilling the rural health institution, which is funded by the European Union.

“Problems here are several but chief among them is the acute shortage of staff housing. The crisis I think emanates from the ever increasing number of nursing staff joining the clinic. Our staff proportion is rapidly ballooning yet we only have three staff houses designed to accommodate one family each,” said Dzwiti. Nine nursing staff share three houses. He was quick to appeal to the corporate world, the government and well-wishers to intervene.

A disgusted nurse, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, castigated the standard of living at the institution likening them to prison cells.

“We are deeply offended to be faced with such horrible living conditions. To be frank here we are living like pigs. Imagine being a family, made up of fathers, mothers and children, using one room and sharing a kitchen with other three families. I am not happy at all to be living under such conditions. I hope the clinic’s development committee will address our plight before it is too late,” she said.

Another member of staff who could not be named for professional reasons expressed the same sentiments, adding that the clinic faced a dire shelter situation that would result in staff members leaving.

“The situation if not urgently addressed will scare away the health personnel,” said the staff.

Efforts to contact the Provincial Health Director, Provincial Medical Director Dr Fabian Mashingaidze were fruitless.