Bulawayo-based legislators have urged the government to act urgently on the decay at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in the city following revelations that infrastructure at the mental health institution is crumbling.
The opposition Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) proportional representation MPs Prince Dube (Entumbane), Tendai Nyathi (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Desire Moyo (Nkulumane-Nketa), Lungile Ncube, Nomvula Mguni and Sikhuphukile Dube made the call during a recent visit to the hospital.
They donated 650kg of rice to the institution.
The MPs bemoaned the poor maintenance of infrastructure, which has seen termites destroying the administration block.
Authorities at the hospital also said they were battling with shortages of food, linen, water and a clogged sewage and water reticulation system.
Ncube said she moved a motion in Parliament to force the government to act on the situation.
Keep Reading
- Belgian king, in shadow of colonial past, to visit DR Congo
- News in depth: Chitungwiza turned into war zone as residents mourn slain CCC activist
- New political party launched
- News in depth: Chitungwiza turned into war zone as residents mourn slain CCC activist
“I actually raised a motion in Parliament pertaining to Ingutsheni’s situation and challenges they are facing because I am so passionate about that hospital,” she said.
“I now understand that it’s a real thing that people have mental challenges, because they all have valid reasons why they ended up being there.
“The situation is critical. The patients block toilets with blankets instead of using toilet paper.”
Ncube, who said she visits the institution regularly, said the hospital was overwhelmed because of an increase in the number of metal health patients attributed to rampant drug abuse in society.
She said there were also women who were victims of gender based violence that ending up at the mental health institution.
Ingutsheni Hospital chief medical officer Nemache Mawere told the legislators that the infrastructure needed urgent attention.
“The doors and windows are broken, floors have holes, sewage and water system is bad,” Mawere said.
“We have not had anything on maintenance so far but we have been promised funding by the government to start on it.”
He said the institution was facing a serious water crisis and that they were forced to engage Mpilo Central Hospital for cooking services for the inmates.