By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe General Hospital is struggling to accommodate patients due to a shortage of ward space, with the growing demand for care among silicosis patients adding pressure to the health institution.
Medical superintendent Dr Tinashe Gunda said the hospital had only one male ward catering for both medical and surgical patients, making it difficult to accommodate silicosis patients who often require prolonged hospital stays.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a donation of essential baby supplies by Kwekwe mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga to two mothers who gave birth to triplets at the hospital, Dr Gunda said the construction of an additional male ward was urgently needed.
“The biggest challenge that is there is the challenge of space. We don’t have space in terms of the male. Most of the silicosis patients are male patients and we only have one ward for the male patients, both medical and surgical patients,” he said.
“Silicosis patients usually stay longer in the wards. Therefore, we run out of space. We would want the construction of a new ward altogether, that is a male ward. That is the serious challenge that we are having currently.”
Dr Gunda expressed appreciation for the support the hospital continued to receive from the community.
The hospital’s space constraints highlight the need for additional infrastructure to accommodate patients requiring prolonged treatment while ensuring that other medical and surgical cases can also be managed effectively.
Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhaling respirable crystalline silica dust, which can cause permanent lung damage and increase the risk of tuberculosis (TB).
