Bulawayo's Ingutsheni Central Hospital, Zimbabwe’s largest psychiatric facility, is grappling with a severe shortage of psychiatrists with just two doctors serving over 650 inpatients and thousands of outpatients monthly.
The 708-bed institution houses more than 600 patients across 14 wards, while its outpatient department handles approximately 2 400 cases each month.
Nemache Mawere, the chief nedical officer, disclosed the crisis during a donation of blankets by Old Mutual Zimbabwe last week.
"We are effectively down to one psychiatrist since my colleague works on annual contract renewals post retirement age," Mawere said.
“I'm currently Bulawayo's only practicing psychiatrist, though my primary role should be administration.”
Mawere said the situation was untenable.
“I shouldn't be handling clinical work or teaching, but we have no choice,” he said.
“We serve both Ingutsheni and Mlondolozi's 400 patients with virtually no specialist coverage.”
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Zimbabwe’s health delivery system has been hit hard by a mass exodus of experienced personnel who are crossing borders in search of greener pastures.
Estimates show that over 5 000 nurses have quit their jobs in frustration over poor pay and working conditions.
The health sector suffers from years of neglect and underfunding.
In April 2001, the African Union countries met in Abuja and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budget to improve the health sector and urged donor countries to scale up support.
In Zimbabwe, health budgets have been nowhere near the 15% Abuja Declaration.
Ingutsheni received 250 blankets to address critical shortages, though Mawere noted they ideally need 4 200 to maintain three blankets per patient (with three in rotation during laundry cycles).
Current stocks stand at 1 500, with blankets frequently damaged by patients due to their medical conditions.
“Unlike other hospitals, we replace blankets every six months because patients tear them,” Mawere said.
The donation came as the institution was recovering from a recent water crisis that forced them to rely on Mpilo Central Hospital for meal preparations.
