Nurses at St Peter’s hospital, Checheche in Chipinge are reportedly demanding payment from patients who seek treatment at the catholic owned hospital.
This surfaced after a four year old girl, Shylet Mufunyi, died from ‘cholera’ yesterday.
The nurse who was on duty, identified as Mai Mugarisi, demanded $4 in exchange for ‘cholera’ treatment. Having failed to secure the required money, the child was left unattended leading to her death.
Speaking to 263chat, the deceased’s aunty who identified herself as Mrs Miziweni lamented the conduct of the nurses.
“The nurse demanded $4 for the Salt and Sugar Solution sachets and $7 for drip. We had no money and we opted to sell one of our goats to raise the needed $11 but unfortunately the child died before we could get a buyer,” said Mrs. Miziweni.
Shylet, was taken to St Peter’s hospital after a severe stomachache which was later said to be cholera. The four year old was supposed to be put on drip but Mai Mugarisi refuted for such to happen before she was handed her $11, which was not being accounted for.
“Mai Mugarisi openly denied us her services before we make a payment,” narrated Mrs Miziweni. .
Nurses in Chipinge are robbing villagers of their money. Medication is being sold to the villagers who are penniless due to the drought which has hard hit the area. She said many people are dying because they have no money to buy medicines.
A Checheche resident, who spoke on conditions of anonymity said the same predicament is also extended to pregnant mothers.
“Even pregnant mothers are not being helped as nurses are demanding for payment upfront,” said the source.
Reports also indicate that HIV/AIDS drugs are being sold to desperate HIV patients and people are dying due to lack of immediate assistance from the hospital.
In a series of interviews with Checheche residents the names Mr Mlambo and Mai Mugarisi topped the list of those who are engaged in the illegal distribution of drugs.
Efforts to get a comment from hospital authorities were fruitless as the hospital number could not be reached.
The level of corruption in Zimbabwe’s public hospitals is disheartening as it is happening in a country where close to 10 million citizens have no access to private health care and thus rely on public health care.
This is not the first time drugs meant to be distributed for free were leaking from public health institutions and circulating on the black market.
