The ManicaPost
Ray Bande and Lovemore Kadzura
THE ongoing industrial action by doctors has left patients stranded with others being taken back home in serious condition in public health institutions across Manicaland province.
A snap survey in Mutare and Rusape by The Manica Post this week revealed a sorry state of affairs in Government hospitals and clinics where even collection of bodies from mortuary was a tall order, especially those that required post mortems.
Relatives of patients in dire need of medical attention could be seen milling in hospital corridors at Mutare Provincial Hospital while others resigned to fate as they collected their loved ones in serious conditions heading back home.
Those intending to collect bodies from the morgue at Mutare Provincial Hospital were seen having a torrid time to go through requisite processes, some of which require the services of the medical practitioners on strike.
District Medical Officers (DMOs), normally one in each district, have been left to perform duties in situations that require expert medical attention in district hospitals.
Manicaland acting Provincial Medical Director Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga confirmed that they have been forced to streamline medical officers in order to cover critical areas only.
“From the reports that we have, there are District Medical Officers covering referral centres across the province. In other areas we have doctors that are attending to emergencies only and not performing their routine duties.
“At Mutare Provincial Hospital we have three Government Medical Officers (GMOs) out of about 11 who are attending to patients.
“In Nyanga there is one District Medical Officer who is attending to patients and it is the same with Chimanimani while in Chipinge the DMO and one GMO are reporting for duty.
“However, we also have specialists reporting for duty at Mutare Provincial Hospital and that includes two gynecologists, one general surgeon, one orthopedic surgeon and three pediatricians,” said Dr Mukuzunga.
He admitted that the situation is dire.
“Obviously when you have work that is normally performed by 11 experts now being left to one person there is bound to be too much pressure,” he said.
A visit by The Manica Post at Rusape General Hospital revealed that two doctors who have managerial positions and cannot join the ongoing industrial action are only attending patients in critical conditions while the rest are being taken care of by nurses. Patients who spoke to this publication said the doctors’ strike has adversely affected their condition as some of them have not been attended to.
Relatives of the patients also said they have been left stranded as they could not afford to look for expensive services in private surgeries ironically being run by the same doctors who are on strike.
“I was only seen once by a doctor since I was admitted. The nurses said the doctor cannot see me regularly as he is covering the whole hospital alone. I am in serious pain and I cannot afford to go to private hospitals as I do not have the money they demand,” said a patient who identified herself as Mai Makoni.
Rusape General Hospital has seven doctors, 150 nurses and several supporting staff working in 15 departments.
