Kariba Hospital operating without an X ray machine
TICHAONA KATSVAMUTIMA IN KARIBA
Kariba District Hospital has been operating without an X-ray machine for the past three years which has incapacitated it in handling casualties, Business Times can report.
The X-ray and other emergency facilities were destroyed by fire in 2019 and no replacements were done.
The hospital’s incapacity to handle casualties was exposed this week on Monday after a road accident along Makuti-Kariba.
Several people died in the accident while 28 were injured.
The injured were then transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for X-ray and decongest Kariba hospital.
Before their transfer, the injured were seen lying on the floor as the hospital beds were full. The hospital has a bed capacity of 24 both male and female wards.
The hospital has 48 beds against a population of 33 000 in the resort town
Contacted for a comment, the Ministry of Health and Child Care Kariba District Medical Officer, Godwin Muza told Business Times that they are waiting to receive an X-ray machine as they have made a requisition to relevant authorities.
“Yes we don’t have an X-ray machine at the moment, our X-ray machine was destroyed by fire in 2019 and at one point we used a mobile X-ray and it’s no longer functional so we have since made a requisition and we are waiting for the delivery,” Muza said.
He added: “On this note we transferred 28 patients to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital for X ray.
“On the issue of beds, we have 24 beds in both female and male wards and the beds were full as a result, some of the injured were being attended on the floor.”
This did not go down well with residents blaming the Government for sidelining Kariba despite that it has a resort town status.
Kariba Incorporated Area Residents, Ratepayers Association Chairman, Samu Mawawu told Business Times that the hospital no longer meets the demand of the population considering it was built in the colonial era, and there was need for urgent need for intervention by the Government to rehabilitate the hospital to meet international standards.
“It’s sad for a hospital in the resort town where tourists flock in not to have an X-ray machine,” Mawawu said.
