News / Local
Cancer equipment lies idle at Mpilo Central Hospital
02 Jul 2014 at 01:10hrs | Views
RADIOTHERAPY equipment worth millions of dollars supplied to Mpilo Central Hospital by the government early last year to cater for cancer patients in the southern parts of the country has been lying idle since then.
Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare was quick to instal its equipment, but disgruntled patients say delays by Mpilo to do the same werfe affecting them.
More than 60 patients, who used to access radiotherapy services at Mpilo when its old radiotherapy equipment was still functional, are suffering and incurring huge costs to undergo radiotheraphy at private institutions.
Chronicle visited the hospital yesterday and noticed that the equipment was being kept in makeshift shed made of asbestos sheets situated opposite the tuberculosis reference laboratory.
As a result, patients who urgently need radiotherapy from this region are being forced to travel outside the country or to Parirenyatwa for services.
The hospital chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba said the installation of the radiotherapy machines was work in progress.
"Yes we have some equipment that has not yet been installed and it will be installed soon. Some of it has been installed," he said.
He said delays had been caused by renovation works taking place at the radiotherapy centre.
At the radiotherapy centre, constructors could be seen plastering part of the walls while the reception was filled with bags of cement.
Cancer patients are mainly treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
"The rooms housing the machines here have to be refurbished before the installation of new machines," said a source at the hospital. The only problem is that it is taking a bit of a long time considering that the government even released funds for the refurbishment of areas where the equipment should be installed."
Cancer patients fear that the equipment could reach its lifespan before it is used.
"We just call for speedy installation of the equipment so that we benefit. How can we keep on going to Harare or South Africa when we have such state-of-the-art equipment here," said a cancer patient on condition of anonymity.
As a result, many patients are forced to access surgery and chemotherapy drugs from the private health delivery system where they are very expensive.
The Cancer Association of Zimbabwe has indicated that there are about 7,000 people suffering from cancer in Zimbabwe but between 700 and 1,500 were on treatment.
Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare was quick to instal its equipment, but disgruntled patients say delays by Mpilo to do the same werfe affecting them.
More than 60 patients, who used to access radiotherapy services at Mpilo when its old radiotherapy equipment was still functional, are suffering and incurring huge costs to undergo radiotheraphy at private institutions.
Chronicle visited the hospital yesterday and noticed that the equipment was being kept in makeshift shed made of asbestos sheets situated opposite the tuberculosis reference laboratory.
As a result, patients who urgently need radiotherapy from this region are being forced to travel outside the country or to Parirenyatwa for services.
The hospital chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba said the installation of the radiotherapy machines was work in progress.
"Yes we have some equipment that has not yet been installed and it will be installed soon. Some of it has been installed," he said.
He said delays had been caused by renovation works taking place at the radiotherapy centre.
At the radiotherapy centre, constructors could be seen plastering part of the walls while the reception was filled with bags of cement.
Cancer patients are mainly treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
"The rooms housing the machines here have to be refurbished before the installation of new machines," said a source at the hospital. The only problem is that it is taking a bit of a long time considering that the government even released funds for the refurbishment of areas where the equipment should be installed."
Cancer patients fear that the equipment could reach its lifespan before it is used.
"We just call for speedy installation of the equipment so that we benefit. How can we keep on going to Harare or South Africa when we have such state-of-the-art equipment here," said a cancer patient on condition of anonymity.
As a result, many patients are forced to access surgery and chemotherapy drugs from the private health delivery system where they are very expensive.
The Cancer Association of Zimbabwe has indicated that there are about 7,000 people suffering from cancer in Zimbabwe but between 700 and 1,500 were on treatment.
Source - chronicle
