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Mnangagwa rescures starving Ingutsheni patients
13 Jan 2017 at 22:29hrs | Views
Vice President Mnangagwa has come to the rescue of hundreds starving patients at Ingutsheni Central Hospital by donating five tonnes of mealie meal.
Early January, patients at the hospital were hit by scurvy - a disease common in the 18th century - due to a poor diet as serious cash constraints affect food supplies at the central hospital.
Scurvy is a disease caused by constantly eating meals that lack vitamin C.
Affected patients develop anaemia, debility, exhaustion, swelling in some parts of the body and sometimes ulceration of the gums as well as loss of teeth.
Mnangagwa was in Bulawayo last week to make the donation.
Ingutsheni board chairperson Sandra Gumbo heaped praise on the generous Mnangagwa.
"The past year was very bad for us and it's a miracle we survived 2016.
"We did get a few donations here and there but they were not as big as this one.
"This is indeed a great way to start 2017 because treasury also availed some funds to address some of our needs. We hope to continue receiving donations of all kinds to sustain our hospital" she said.
The hospital, which entirely relies on government funding, has been hard hit by insufficient budgetary allocations and forced to depend on well-wishers to finance its operations.
Between 400 to 600 patients are accommodated at the hospital at any given time.
Also to benefit are four charity organisations in the city Entembeni Old Peoples Home, Thembiso Children's Home,Ekuphumuleni Old Peoples Home in Mzilikazi and Jairos Jiri Home.
Early January, patients at the hospital were hit by scurvy - a disease common in the 18th century - due to a poor diet as serious cash constraints affect food supplies at the central hospital.
Scurvy is a disease caused by constantly eating meals that lack vitamin C.
Affected patients develop anaemia, debility, exhaustion, swelling in some parts of the body and sometimes ulceration of the gums as well as loss of teeth.
Mnangagwa was in Bulawayo last week to make the donation.
Ingutsheni board chairperson Sandra Gumbo heaped praise on the generous Mnangagwa.
"The past year was very bad for us and it's a miracle we survived 2016.
"This is indeed a great way to start 2017 because treasury also availed some funds to address some of our needs. We hope to continue receiving donations of all kinds to sustain our hospital" she said.
The hospital, which entirely relies on government funding, has been hard hit by insufficient budgetary allocations and forced to depend on well-wishers to finance its operations.
Between 400 to 600 patients are accommodated at the hospital at any given time.
Also to benefit are four charity organisations in the city Entembeni Old Peoples Home, Thembiso Children's Home,Ekuphumuleni Old Peoples Home in Mzilikazi and Jairos Jiri Home.
Source - Byo24News
