Grandpa (80) goes missing from hospital

A Masvingo family is appealing for information about an 80-year-old family member who went missing on June 5 from Morgenster Hospital outside Masvingo city.

Mr Taruvinga Chitengedza underwent a hernia operation on May 15 this year and was discharged. He had been readmitted on May 28 for close monitoring of the wound from the operation when he disappeared.

In an interview with The Herald, one of the family members, Mr Mugove Tota said he learnt that Mr Chitengedza was missing after midday, when he went for the afternoon visit.

"My uncle was admitted in the male ward in ward 2," he said. "When I went for the afternoon visit l noticed that he was not there. For a moment l thought he had gone to relieve himself in the toilet, but he was not there.

"I asked the sister-in-charge, but she did not know where he had gone."

Mr Tota said the hospital did not have uniforms for patients and this makes it hard for security officers to distinguish between patients and visitors.

"We have been searching for him everywhere, even in bushes," he said.

"The worst thing is that the referral hospital does not have uniforms for patients and this makes it hard for security officers to notice and differentiate patients from visitors."

Mr Tota said the case had been reported at Masvingo Central and Rural police stations. Mr Tota appealed to anyone who might have seen or may have information on his whereabouts to contact him on 0773492692 or report to the nearest police station.