By Rex Mphisa
HEALTH officials at Beitbridge have asked government for scanners to use on repatriated remains of Zimbabweans coming home for burial from South Africa.
The officials also requested they be granted powers to stop and inspect heavy vehicles carrying substances requiring health certifications.
These and several other issues were raised by Beitbridge District Medical Officer Linus Samhere while briefing the Minister of Health and Child Care Douglas Mombeshora who visited Beitbridge last Friday.
“We need body scanners to inspect human remains carried from South Africa. We are also asking for authority to be able to stop and inspect vehicles bringing different substances into the country,” he said.
Physical examination of deceased exposed health officialswhile vehicles carrying undesirable or harmful substances could be only be inspected if stopped by other border officials.
Samhere also told Mombeshora that the “one window” payment policy by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority at Beitbridge denied the Hospital fees paid for handling deceased people.
“Before that arrangement we would get that money used for day to day running of the hospital and to buy drugs. Our drugs supply had improved,” he said.
Samhere also told Mombeshora that a morden ARV drugs dispenser, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe, could not be installed at the hospital due to some technical challenges including that its server was in South Africa.
This would compromise the hospital – patient privacy.
On a positive note Samhere said expectant mothers were now being treated for free while other patients were charged minimally for drugs.
The drugs supply at Beitbridge improved vastly, he said.