-as Ngomahuru clocks 3months without power
FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO-The only psychiatric referral hospital in Masvingo Province, Ngomahuru’s lack of power has led to an unfortunate tragedy, as a mental patient who escaped at night drowned in one of the nearby pools.
A villager from nearby the hospital told The Midweek Watch that a psychiatric patient escaped into the darkness at the institution and a search did not result in any positive result since it was too dark to locate her due to lack of light.
“A female mental patient escaped at night and a search was conducted, but she could not be found due to lack of light. She was later discovered by a villager lying lifeless in a pool of water,” said the source.
The source added that the body was taken to Chivi District Hospital mortuary over the weekend for a postmortem.
The development comes amid rumours that President Mnangagwa is scheduled to make a surprise visit at the age old institution before the official opening of the Disability Expo at Mucheke Grounds on Friday.
The source confided to The Midweek Watch that most parts of the perimeter fence at the hospital have fallen down rendering the institution insecure for patients and workers as thieves can strike with ease.
When contacted for comment, ZRP Masvingo province spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he had not received any report relating to the alleged drowning of a patient.
Efforts to get a comment from the Ngomahuru Hospital public relations officer, Gift Muzondo were fruitless as his mobile phone was not available until the time of posting the story.
When The Midweek Watch broke the power challenge story three months ago Muzondo said the transformer was struck by lightning on April 7 this year and has not been repaired ever since.
Provincial Medical Director Dr. Amadeus Shamu confirmed that the institution is currently relying on solar power, which is supplying electricity to the wards.
“However, there remains a major challenge in staff quarters where there is no solar backup.”
“ZESA has installed a new transformer, but there is a cable that costs approximately US$10,000 which needs to be procured before electricity can be fully restored. We are still working to raise the funds and have engaged head office for financial assistance,” said Dr. Shamu.
On the patient who escaped and was later found dead in a water body nearby the hospital Dr. Shamu said he had not received the report and would enquire on Tuesday for the information.
The prolonged power outage has left the institution, which plays a key role in rehabilitating drug and substance abuse victims as well as psychiatric patients, operating under difficult conditions with essential services being affected due to lack of reliable electricity.
When contacted for a comment, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) public relations officer, Alaina Suliwa said she would require formal written communication before responding, citing protocol and authority approval.
A source at ZETDC Masvingo who is not authorized to speak to the media told this reporter that they are working flat out to restore power at Ngomahuru and they have since installed the transformer and are helping the institution in sourcing extra equipment required to connect to the grid.
