Zomba Central Hospital Hygiene at Stake
Hygiene is at stake at Zomba Central Hospital guardian shelter, as it has run without water for some months.
According to Chairperson for guardians at the shelter, Melise John, hygiene has been compromised since Southern Region Water Board disconnected water at the facility.
John said it is very pathetic to have a shelter which accommodates over 200 guardians on daily basis but running without any source of water and a toilet.
“The situation forces us to fetch firewood in Zomba Mountain, which they sale in order to get money to buy water and pay private toilets as well as bathrooms. Those without money for that particular day find means of helping themselves in terms of the said services which she said poses danger to cholera outbreak at the facility,” John said
Authorities at Zomba Central Hospital distanced themselves from the problem saying, the guardian shelter is under Zomba city council.
According to Principal Hospital Administrator Antonio Kamanga, their policies allow them to be responsible for patients only and the shelter is looked after by the City Council.
“The pay toilet which is there was constructed by the Council after they solicited funds from a certain donor which in turn outsourced the contractor to run,” said Kamanga.
He then said there is need to drill a borehole at the guardian shelter for the benefit of guardians and market users at Komboni which is behind the shelter who also need such services.
When the issue was referred to city council authorities, they expressed ignorance on the challenges the guardians are facing.
Director of Health Services at the council, Gomezghian Nyasulu said he was not aware that the facility is running without water and toilets.
“The responsibility to run the guardian shelter is not in the hands of Zomba city council because it is a referral hospital as it accommodates patients from eastern region districts,” Nyasulu said.
People in the city have been accusing the two institutions for not attending to challenges the guardians face as they are looking after their patients.
