EDITORIAL COMMENT: Emulate Mpilo in addressing challenges

mpilo1Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo like other government referral hospitals is facing many challenges as a result of inadequate funding from government. The hospital administration instead of just mourning about inadequate government funding, decided to think outside the box and mobilised the community to assist with resources.

The hospital last August held an investors and donors’ conference and the outcome seems to have been a resounding success. Many companies and individuals pledged to assist the hospital in cash and kind and according to reports from the hospital management, a number of projects aimed at improving the institution’s service delivery are underway.

The hospital which was built in 1957 by the then federal government, has a capacity of 1,000 beds. It is a referral hospital for Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and South, Masvingo and the Midlands provinces hence the high demand for its services. The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa, who was the guest of honour at the donors’ conference, said the initiative was the first of its kind in his ministry.

The conference, apart from highlighting the challenges facing one of the oldest hospitals in the country, mobilised the community to take ownership of the institution. Residents, through the Bulawayo United Residents’ Association, are funding the construction of a three-kilometre perimeter wall around the hospital at a cost of $200,000 because they have taken ownership of the hospital.

In its post event report this week, the hospital management said since the donors’ conference, the institution has undergone radical transformation as a result of its partnership with companies and organisations. The hospital’s chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba, said wards and departments have been adopted by organisations such as Holiday Inn, Blissful Enterprises, Zimplow and Mimosa Mine.

He said POSB had funded the rehabilitation of boreholes, Edgars had donated bins and many other institutions and companies had donated medical equipment and linen that includes blankets. He said CBZ and Spar Bellevue donated ambulances.

The situation at the hospital has greatly improved as a result of management’s innovativeness and creativity. This is the type of leadership that we want at public institutions especially now when the government has many competing priorities for funding. Communities should own public institutions like hospitals but they can only do so when they are mobilised like what Mpilo management has done.

It is pleasing to note that the Mpilo family is not just the residents of Bulawayo but covers its entire catchment area which stretches to as far as Masvingo province and the hospital even has partners from as far as India. This is as it should be and we want at this juncture to implore management of other hospitals to emulate Mpilo management’s aggressiveness in addressing challenges.

It is our fervent hope that the many companies and individuals that made pledges during the donors’ conference will strive to honour them. We want to say thumbs up to Mpilo management for being trailblazers in seeking solutions to challenges facing the health sector. You demonstrated thought leadership.

You Might Also Like

Comments