Zimpapers Logo

Molline Gagare Chronicle Reporter
SECURITY concerns have been raised at Ingutsheni Central Hospital in Bulawayo following the escape of a patient from the institution last Friday.

The patient was found three days later in Tsholotsho after police helped him to find his way home.

Nurses discovered that Lameck Moyo, 22, was missing during breakfast.

The patient’s sister, Servie Moyo, said she received a call from the mental institution informing her Lameck had escaped and was nowhere to be found.

“I got a call informing me that Lameck had disappeared. I then went to the hospital and was informed that my brother had been reported missing at Donnington Police Station. I also heard that he disappeared wearing his patients’ uniform,” said Moyo.

Lameck’s sister said she was disappointed by the security at the hospital and blames the staff for not constantly monitoring patients.

“We were so worried about my brother. The doctors assessed him and moved him to a ward where the less critical patients are kept. I don’t understand how he walked out of the hospital and past security in his uniform. It means that the place is not secure,” said Moyo.

Leonard Mabhandi, Ingutsheni Central Hospital CEO, confirmed that Lameck had escaped from the hospital on Friday last week and a report had been made at Donnington Police Station.

When asked about security at the hospital, Mabhandi said there is 24 hour security at the gates and nurses do routine checks at regular intervals.

“We’ve a closed ward for critical patients that are tightly monitored. We also have an open ward where the less critical patients are kept. It is easier for patients in the open ward to escape because they are allowed to walk around the hospital. This is the ward where Lameck was staying,” said Mabhandi.

Last month, a woman committed suicide at the hospital after an alleged altercation with staff because she wanted to go home and breastfeed her baby.

In 2013, another patient at the institution Trevor Zartman, 41, allegedly burnt himself to death. Medical reports showed that Zartman died due to open fire burns, smoke inhalation and asphyxia.