HARARE, Mar. 24 (NewsDay Live) – Human rights doctors have called on the government to urgently address the deteriorating conditions at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.
The doctors said they were deeply concerned about the poor working conditions and infrastructure decay at the hospital.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) said the “genuine grievances” raised by healthcare workers reflected a healthcare system in crisis — one that fails both frontline workers and the patients they serve.
“Reports of prolonged power and water outages at one of the country’s major referral hospitals are unacceptable and pose severe risks to patient safety,” ZADHR said.
“The conditions under which healthcare workers are expected to operate not only compromise their well-being but also severely diminish the quality of care provided to patients, some of whom are critically ill.”
ZADHR said while they acknowledged the Health and Child Care ministry’s recognition of the issues being faced by the healthcare workers and the proposed remedial measures, they were concerned that the response “lacks urgency and specificity”.
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“Plans to repair water tanks and elevators, while necessary, do not address the immediate crisis.
“There is no clear timeline for resolving the power and water supply shortages, and no commitment to ensuring adequate medical supplies and improved working conditions for healthcare professionals,” the rights doctors said.
“ZADHR calls on the government to take swift and decisive action, including immediate restoration of electricity and water supply at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital to prevent further disruption of critical healthcare services, transparency and accountability in the ministry’s response, with clear timelines for addressing infrastructure failures and shortages and urgent investment in healthcare workers through fair remuneration, safe working conditions, and non-retaliation against those who voice legitimate concerns.”
They said failure to address these concerns would only deepen the public health crisis, endangering lives and further eroding confidence in Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.
“ZADHR stands in solidarity with all healthcare professionals advocating for better working conditions and remains committed to defending the right to quality healthcare for all Zimbabweans.”
Earlier, the rights doctors called for urgent action following shocking revelations that 300 newborns lost their lives and 54 women died due to pregnancy-related complications.
They blamed the preventable deaths on systemic failures within the health delivery system in Zimbabwe.
The doctors said the statistics, which highlight the ongoing maternal health crisis, expose inadequate healthcare infrastructure, chronic under-funding and severe shortage of essential supplies at Zimbabwe’s public health facilities.
“This crisis is a direct result of inadequate healthcare infrastructure, chronic under-funding, shortage of essential medical supplies and a severe lack of access to quality maternal care,” ZADHR said in the statement.
“No woman should have to risk her life to give birth and no child should be lost due to a failing system.
“Yet, these statistics are a grim reflection of the everyday reality faced by expectant mothers in Zimbabwe.”
