By Rex Mphisa
MATABELELAND South Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe has instructed the Beitbridge Municipality to honour its mandate and provide ambulance service to urban Beitbridge.
Nguluvhe was reacting to social media reports in the border town saying Government was failing to provide ambulance services to the town’s residents.
“The ambulance service in town is provided for by the Municipality. It is Beitbridge Municipality and people are now rushing to blame Government,” said Nguluvhe.
A message posted on WhatsApp groups by one Beitbridge policymaker blamed Government for lack of ambulance service.
Nguluvhe said the concerned policymaker did not know his work.
He was addressing staff at Beitbridge Rural District Hospital he toured yesterday as part of his day long visit of public facilities in Beitbridge.
Nguluvhe pledged to chase up the X-ray machine which broke down and the needy have to travel to Gwanda for the service.
Briefing Nguluvhe the Beitbridge District Medical Officer Lenos Samhere said the Hospital X-ray, Autoclave machine, Hospital Incinerator were dysfunctional with the latter obsolete.
“We have serviced the laundry machine and we are going to service the mortuary. Its a pity people have to go to Gwanda but that is money we are losing. The X-ray was our cash cow because we have members of the society treated free,” said Samhere.
Government policy is that people aged 65, children under five and expectant mothers do not pay Hospital fees.
Samhere said another factor affecting the running of the hospital was the reluctance to pay Hospital fees.
Samhere also said another issue affecting service was the freezing of posts and that had affected nursing departments where 40 vacancies at Beitbridge.
He said Government had also staffed Rural District Council clinics although instead of five, most clinics had two nurses affecting 24 hour operation.
Nguluvhe also visited the registry office, where he said he was satisfied by the service people received.