By Darlington GatsiTHE Parliament of Zimbabwe has painted a grim picture of the current state of mental health institutions in the country, which are literally on their knees due to neglect and underfunding, putting the lives of the majority of patients at high risk.Mental health facilities in Zimbabwe have become a focal point in Parliament, with legislators bemoaning the deterioration of the institutions, leaving the poor at the mercy of private practitioners who charge exorbitant fees.Speaking in the National Assembly recently, Lungile Ncube lamented the poor state of mental health facilities, particularly Ngomahuru in Masvingo and Ingutsheni in Bulawayo.“Turning back to Ingutsheni Hospital, the situation is nothing short of heartbreaking. The institution is grappling with chronic drug shortages, a severe water crisis, sewer blockages, food insecurity, overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure.“It is currently housing over 650 patients, well beyond its intended capacity. Due to lack of water, the hospital has been forced to outsource meals from Mpilo Central Hospital, transporting food daily, a significant financial burden.“Sanitation has become a critical concern as well.
Honourable Speaker, without the necessary medication to calm them, patients often become agitated and very difficult to manage at some point.“Hospital staff is traumatised in dealing with such an overwhelming situation, especially if the patient becomes violent and dangerous,” said Ncube.Ncube added that patients are being forced to use blankets instead of toilet paper, an indication of the dire conditions at the institutions.“Sanitation has become a critical concern as well. Honourable Speaker, without the necessary medication to calm them, patients often become agitated and very difficult to manage at some point. Hospital staff is traumatised in dealing with such an overwhelming situation, especially if the patient becomes violent and dangerous,” said Ncube.The current state of mental health hospitals undermines the government’s limited efforts to curb drug and substance abuse, as the facilities responsible for rehabilitation are incapacitated.This has left only those with financial means to resort to private institutions, which charge exorbitant fees.Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokela said mental health facilities have also been severely affected by the emigration of workers leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities.“Added to that, I want to encourage us to make sure that we help the mental health institutions to address the issue of human resources.
If you go to Ingutsheni, you will realise that there is a shortage of medically trained staff. The hospital continues to lose staff who are going for greener pastures.“Some of them are going to the private sector and some are going to the diaspora. So, the patient-to-staff ratio is continuously getting worse at any given time.
I want to encourage us as parliamentarians to make sure that the welfare, the remuneration and the benefits of the staff who are working at mental health hospitals are seriously reviewed to make sure that we do not continue to lose them,” said Molokela.Health facilities across the country are deteriorating, a decline observers attribute to years of neglect and underfunding by the government.
THE Parliament of Zimbabwe has painted a grim picture of the current state of mental health institutions in the country, which are literally on their knees due to neglect and underfunding, putting the lives of the majority of patients at high risk.
Mental health facilities in Zimbabwe have become a focal point in Parliament, with legislators bemoaning the deterioration of the institutions, leaving the poor at the mercy of private practitioners who charge exorbitant fees.
Speaking in the National Assembly recently, Lungile Ncube lamented the poor state of mental health facilities, particularly Ngomahuru in Masvingo and Ingutsheni in Bulawayo.
“Turning back to Ingutsheni Hospital, the situation is nothing short of heartbreaking. The institution is grappling with chronic drug shortages, a severe water crisis, sewer blockages, food insecurity, overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure.
“It is currently housing over 650 patients, well beyond its intended capacity. Due to lack of water, the hospital has been forced to outsource meals from Mpilo Central Hospital, transporting food daily, a significant financial burden.
“Sanitation has become a critical concern as well.
Honourable Speaker, without the necessary medication to calm them, patients often become agitated and very difficult to manage at some point.
“Hospital staff is traumatised in dealing with such an overwhelming situation, especially if the patient becomes violent and dangerous,” said Ncube.
Ncube added that patients are being forced to use blankets instead of toilet paper, an indication of the dire conditions at the institutions.
“Sanitation has become a critical concern as well. Honourable Speaker, without the necessary medication to calm them, patients often become agitated and very difficult to manage at some point. Hospital staff is traumatised in dealing with such an overwhelming situation, especially if the patient becomes violent and dangerous,” said Ncube.
The current state of mental health hospitals undermines the government’s limited efforts to curb drug and substance abuse, as the facilities responsible for rehabilitation are incapacitated.
This has left only those with financial means to resort to private institutions, which charge exorbitant fees.
Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokela said mental health facilities have also been severely affected by the emigration of workers leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities.
“Added to that, I want to encourage us to make sure that we help the mental health institutions to address the issue of human resources.
If you go to Ingutsheni, you will realise that there is a shortage of medically trained staff. The hospital continues to lose staff who are going for greener pastures.
“Some of them are going to the private sector and some are going to the diaspora. So, the patient-to-staff ratio is continuously getting worse at any given time.
I want to encourage us as parliamentarians to make sure that the welfare, the remuneration and the benefits of the staff who are working at mental health hospitals are seriously reviewed to make sure that we do not continue to lose them,” said Molokela.
Source: Newzimbabwe
