News / Local
Bulawayo clinics hit by nursing staff shortages
06 Jan 2015 at 17:40hrs | Views
Bulawayo City Council's clinics have been hit by nursing staff shortages amid reports that the health facilities operated with a 62 percent staff compliment during the year 2014.
According to the latest report on the city's state of affairs by the Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo, the shortage of nurses in the city's 16 clinics remained a challenge as the establishments operated with limited nursing staff.
"This led to long waiting time for services at clinics," said Clr Moyo.
He said the laboratory at Khami Road Clinic was relocated to Thorngrove Hospital laboratory during the year, following the latter's renovation.
"A cold room was fitted at the main pharmacy to improve medicines efficacy."
In the provision of emergency and rescue services, Clr Moyo said the city's Fire and Ambulance Services attended to 685 fires and 243 special service calls.
"The City of Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services processed and approved a total number of 178 building plans with a value of $32 697 208.48, while the Ambulance section attended a total of 22 165 calls .
"A site for a new Fire and Ambulance Services sub-station was identified in Cowdray Park Suburb," said Clr Moyo.
He said the shortage of manpower was the major challenge hindering the provision of effective and quality Fire and Ambulance Service delivery.
"Financial constraints were also a challenge that hindered such major developments as construction of a Fire and Ambulance sub-station in Cowdray Park. The other challenges included the continuous vandalism of fire hydrants especially in the western suburbs," said Moyo.
He said inadequate staff, coupled with a depleted fleet of ambulances to adequately cover the entire city and its surroundings also affected the service.
Clr Moyo also noted that refuse collection remained a challenge due to shortage of vehicles, as the council, operated with five reliable vehicles and the remaining 17 vehicles required constant mechanical attention.
The Mayor however conceded that the planned acquisition of two refuse compactors in 2015 will bring slight improvement in the city's refuse management.
"A multi stakeholder platform was constituted to help enhance the city's ability to respond to the growing problem of littering and to restore Bulawayo's reputation of being one of the cleanest cities in the world," said Clr Moyo.
According to the latest report on the city's state of affairs by the Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo, the shortage of nurses in the city's 16 clinics remained a challenge as the establishments operated with limited nursing staff.
"This led to long waiting time for services at clinics," said Clr Moyo.
He said the laboratory at Khami Road Clinic was relocated to Thorngrove Hospital laboratory during the year, following the latter's renovation.
"A cold room was fitted at the main pharmacy to improve medicines efficacy."
In the provision of emergency and rescue services, Clr Moyo said the city's Fire and Ambulance Services attended to 685 fires and 243 special service calls.
"The City of Bulawayo Fire and Ambulance Services processed and approved a total number of 178 building plans with a value of $32 697 208.48, while the Ambulance section attended a total of 22 165 calls .
"A site for a new Fire and Ambulance Services sub-station was identified in Cowdray Park Suburb," said Clr Moyo.
He said the shortage of manpower was the major challenge hindering the provision of effective and quality Fire and Ambulance Service delivery.
"Financial constraints were also a challenge that hindered such major developments as construction of a Fire and Ambulance sub-station in Cowdray Park. The other challenges included the continuous vandalism of fire hydrants especially in the western suburbs," said Moyo.
He said inadequate staff, coupled with a depleted fleet of ambulances to adequately cover the entire city and its surroundings also affected the service.
Clr Moyo also noted that refuse collection remained a challenge due to shortage of vehicles, as the council, operated with five reliable vehicles and the remaining 17 vehicles required constant mechanical attention.
The Mayor however conceded that the planned acquisition of two refuse compactors in 2015 will bring slight improvement in the city's refuse management.
"A multi stakeholder platform was constituted to help enhance the city's ability to respond to the growing problem of littering and to restore Bulawayo's reputation of being one of the cleanest cities in the world," said Clr Moyo.
Source - Radio Dialogue
