Efforts to re-open Joshua Nkomo's hospital

YEARS of neglect have taken a toll on Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo as some of its wings have fallen apart, but rehabilitation works are under way as efforts to re-open the institution before the end of the year gather momentum.

A Chronicle news crew visited the hospital on Tuesday and found construction workers busy removing structures that were collapsing.

The cost of damages to the hospital, which is the brainchild of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, was not immediately available but estimates suggested that more than $100,000 could be needed to restore the structure before it could be opened before the end of  year as has been promised.

The electrical system has been affected by rain and the front of the roof needs a total redo.

Paint was peeling off and part of the ceiling had been removed exposing trusses affected by termites.

Construction workers have removed previously installed electrical tubing. The 200 bed medical centre was initiated as a joint venture between the Zimbabwe Health Care Trust (ZHCT) and NETCARE while the National Social Security Authority and the Mining Industry Pension Fund became partners in the construction of the institution.

Officials contacted by Chronicle yesterday were reluctant to comment on the issue.

Dr Daudi Dube, a member Zimbabwe Health Care Trust and Thoko Makhuvire, the project manager, declined to comment.

The late vice-president's daughter Thandiwe Nkomo referred all questions to NSSA.

Both NSSA and the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Cde Nicholas Goche, who last month said the hospital was expected re-open before the end of the year, could not be reached for comment.

Recent reports suggested that the specialist institution would open soon after an investor poured in $36 million.

An official at the site who spoke on condition of anonymity said renovations being undertaken would not delay the proposed reopening.

"The renovations are part of the project to reopen the medical centre. They are not expected to delay the official opening," said the official.

Contractors at the site were reluctant to estimate a time frame for renovations saying they were scheduled to meet with NSSA officials to discuss the project.

The hospital was briefly opened in 2004 but closed after realisation that the equipment acquired by the institution and worth millions of dollars was obsolete despite millions having been invested by NSSA into the hospital.

The medical centre, which was built at a cost of about $4 million in 2000, will have 13 departments when fully operational and has the potential to increase its capacity to 265 beds.