Maravi

Mbala hospital in bed linen crisis

Mbala hospital in bed linen crisis
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Sun 08 Apr. 2012, 13:27 CAT

MBALA district hospital has been hit by acute shortage of bed linen and patients are being asked to bring their beddings when admitted, hospital and community sources have disclosed.

The sources said the acute shortage of linen at the district hospital had hit the poor villagers hardest, as some are forced to use chitenge material to cover their patient.

"It has been going on for some time now," one of the sources said anonymously. "The hospital staff and almost everyone here knows this problem. In fact, just when they admit you, they even ask you to bring your own blankets. It's a trend."

The sources complained that the absence of beddings had spread even to the fee paying wards at the hospital which serves the vast Mbala areas, Mpulungu, parts of Nakonde and far flung border areas with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.

"This is just one of the many problems we face as a people here," said the source.

"We hear the government is building new hospitals in other areas but us what we are only asking for is to be given blankets. Is that too much to ask? We are also part of Zambia and we need to benefit from national development."

Northern Province permanent secretary Emmanuel Mwamba said he was not aware of the shortage of beddings at Mbala hospital.

"Mbala has a big catchment area and it would really be unfortunate if the hospital has run out of blankets," Mwamba said.

"I will talk to both Dr Chishimba - Mbala district hospital executive director as well as Dr Peter Mwaba (ministry of health permanent secretary). So by Tuesday, I will give you a comprehensive picture."

Labels: EMMANUEL MWAMBA, HEALTHCARE

posted by MrK @ 4:10 PM