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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Manicaland Bureau

HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo yesterday toured health facilities in Chimanimani and Chipinge to assess the distribution of medical supplies donated by well-wishers to victims of Cyclone Idai.

He also visited hospitalised victims.

Dr Moyo visited Chipinge District hospital which has been the major referral hospital for victims of the cyclone.

He also visited Chimanimani Rural Hospital where victims were being treated first before being airlifted to Skyline and Chipinge.

Dr Moyo further visited Silverstream, where all aid is being delivered before it is distributed to various stations.

“I wanted to have a personal assessment and be able to see how the Government is assisting victims of Cyclone Idai. I wanted to check whether the provided medicine has indeed reached the patients and I am happy so far there has been no misuse. All medicine from the Tanzanian Government has been allocated to Silverstone Clinic and as I speak it is being distributed to all health facilities,” he said.

Dr Moyo said Government was conscious of possible abuse of medical supplies.

“The issue of security is key and from the pharmacy side we have called for check-ins of medicine upon arriving for stock and disbursement to patients. We will continue to monitor the distribution so that all supplies are accounted for,” he said.

Dr Moyo said in future, Government intended to have a computerised system to register all medical supplies that come into each health facility or is dispensed to patients.

He said the system was already functioning in Mashonaland East and Manicaland was next in line.

Chipinge district medical officer Dr Brian Makumbe said the hospital had tried its best to assist victims of the cyclone.

He said they continued to receive patients who were being rescued and airlifted for further observation and treatment.

“Since the cyclone hit, we have admitted 68 patients and so far 15 have been discharged and 11 were transferred to Mutare Provincial hospital. We had three women who suffered complications in their pregnancies and had miscarriages and we have four patients in the maternity ward,” he said.

“We are likely to experience complications; an increase in diarrhoea cases, malnutrition and respiratory tract infections. We need to prepare for these complications,” he said.

“I wanted to have a personal assessment and be able to see how the Government is assisting victims of Cyclone Idai. I wanted to check whether the provided medicine has indeed reached the patients and I am happy so far there has been no misuse”