Story by Yolanda Moyo
Government has reiterated its commitment to capacitating Ingutsheni Central Hospital to enhance the provision of quality and accessible mental healthcare services to the citizenry.
The Central Hospital has witnessed a surge in admissions in recent years due to drug and substance abuse, putting immense pressure on its existing resources.
During a recent visit to the health institution, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure optimal patient care.
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done in the wards because patients who are here are not the same as those you find in other central hospitals because they need special care,” the Minister said.
“We need adequate and trained staff to be here. I know the hospital is at a nine percent vacancy rate, which is better than in the ministry, but obviously, we have to prioritise this hospital because of the kind of patients they attend to. The physical environment plays a crucial role in patient well-being. We will prioritize the refurbishment of existing facilities.”
The Minister also highlighted the importance of ensuring a consistent and adequate supply of essential medicines.
“We understand that most of the infrastructure was vandalised by patients who would have become acute psychotic yet we don’t have anti-psychotics to calm them down.
“As a ministry, we have promised to put more effort into acquiring the drugs, and we must ensure that by the end of January, some of these drugs will have been procured to improve the stocks. However, it is pleasing that the hospital now has doctors who are doing psychiatric training.
“We hope that these doctors will come back after training and help in improving service delivery in the institution. We are committed to working with relevant stakeholders to streamline the procurement and distribution of essential drugs to Ingutsheni. This will ensure that patients receive the necessary treatment and support for their mental health conditions,” Dr Mombeshora said.
The Second Republic is on a drive to invest in health infrastructure, human resources, and equipment to achieve universal access to health care for all Zimbabweans.
