Petros Zivengwa Herald Reporter
Zvishavane District Hospital has been hit by a serious shortage of blankets and patients are being asked to bring their own linen on admission to the healthcare institution, The Herald has learnt. The hospital’s medical director Dr Timothy Mavurayi confirmed that the hospital was experiencing financial challenges.
“It’s true that we have gone for more than four years without proper bedding for patients including blankets and sheets. Patients have to bring their own blankets from home,” he said.
“Like any other government hospital, we are short of funds, blood and essential drugs among other problems.”
Zvishavane-Ngezi House of Assembly member John Holder concurred with Dr Mavurayi on the plight of the hospital.
“The situation at the hospital is pathetic. Patients being admitted at the hospital have to bring their own blankets,” he said.
“The situation is so bad that other middle class families now prefer to go to Shabani Private Hospital while the majority of the poor are stuck at the hospital with no blankets and essential drugs.”
The hospital serves more than 100 000 people in the district.
Contacted for comment, Midlands provincial medical director Dr Milton Chemhuru said he was not aware of the problems at Zvishavane District Hospital.
“I don’t know that there are no blankets at the hospital,” he said. “We have built a laundry and bought a washing machine but if there are no blankets the problem will be resolved soon.”