Zimbabwe’s drug rehabilitation centres are facing a severe shortage of medication and necessities, putting patients and staff at risk.
A recent report by the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, led by Chief Sansali, highlighted these issues and was tabled before the Senate.
Chief Sansali revealed that Matabeleland North and South provinces lack dedicated drug rehabilitation centres.
Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital, one of Zimbabwe’s largest mental health institutions located about 52 km from Masvingo, is experiencing an acute shortage of medication. Said Chief Sansali (<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200036405/drug-rehabs-hit-by-medication-shortage">via NewsDay</a>):
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The committee observed that Matabeleland North and South provinces do not have drug and rehabilitation centres.
The quality of care and treatment is compromised due to a shortage of psychotherapeutic drugs. For instance, at the general section of Ngomahuru Hospital, the institution is not providing medication to patients leading to a situation where that section of the hospital functions more as a detention centre for individuals who struggle to co-exist with others in society.
Unfortunately, after 4 to 8 weeks of inadequate treatment, these individuals are released back into the community.
Moreover, the shortage of medication puts workers at risk, as some patients may become violent and without the necessary drugs, staff is unable to manage these situations effectively.
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Ingutsheni Hospital, the largest psychiatric hospital in Zimbabwe, located in Belmont, Bulawayo, is also facing a critical shortage of drugs. Said Chief Sansali:
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Despite Ingutsheni Hospital receiving medicines from Egypt, it still faces shortages of critical medications like Chlorpromazine and Diazepam as well as essential anti-craving and aversive drugs necessary for effective rehabilitation.
The committee observed that some of the institutions earmarked for conversion into rehabilitation centres such as St Luke’s and Mzilikazi male circumcision centres have not yet received any communication in that regard.
There is a general shortage of trained professionals, including counsellors, psychiatrists and social workers with expertise in addiction treatment, which limits the quality and scope of services provided.
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Staffing levels at mental health facilities were insufficient, with the ideal ratio of one nurse per four patients not being met. Said Chief Sansali:
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For example, Gwanda Provincial Hospital is struggling with a deficit of mental health personnel, currently employing only 33 out of the recommended 70 workers.
Additionally, institutions like Chipadze lack social workers, an essential role in the recovery process for patients.
Uniforms for patients, especially in psychiatric sections are often unavailable or in poor condition, with many being torn.
There is a persistent shortage of bedding and laundry facilities often malfunction leading to the deterioration of linen.
There is a severe shortage of beds, forcing some patients to sleep on the floor or in makeshift arrangements.
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The report also said Ngomahuru receives only 30% of its proposed budget as it is viewed as a district hospital, which is insufficient to cover even two months of operations.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe's drug rehab centers don't have enough medicine and things they need. The report by Chief Sansali says Matabeleland North and South don't have any rehab centers. Ngomahuru Hospital doesn't have enough medicine for patients and staff, leading to bad situations. Ingutsheni Hospital also doesn't have some important medicines. The hospitals don't have enough trained professionals for addiction treatment. The hospitals don't have enough staff, uniforms, bedding, or beds. Ngomahuru Hospital doesn't get enough money to operate. Overall, the rehab centers in Zimbabwe are struggling with shortages and it's affecting the patients and staff.

Zimbabwe's Drug Rehab Centres Struggle With Medication Shortages

Calvin Moyo, a 21-year-old Zimbabwean man often referred to as “giant” due to his unusual height, has been admitted to Ingutsheni Psychiatric Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
Calvin’s mother, Sifiso Moyo, told <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/giant-admitted-to-ingutsheni/">The Sunday News</a> that he has been getting aggressive and hallucinating and there are fears that he may harm those around him. Said Moyo:
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Calvin is getting worse, it looks like this has now affected his mental well-being, we took him to Mpilo Central Hospital where he was referred to Ingutsheni Hospital.
He is not well at all, the doctors told us that there are some drugs he was supposed to get for the fits that he experiences and that he should have started taking them in February but because he could not get them, he keeps getting the fits and this may have caused the challenges he is experiencing now. There is hope that if he gets them, he will be better.
On Tuesday he was violent and wanted to beat up people, he had started on Monday night, he did not sleep at all and was saying there were people who were beating him up and trying to remove his intestines from his stomach.
He was no longer coherent and kept getting worse. He even started to attack people. He was especially violent with little children as he was saying they were the ones who were “hurting” him.
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Moyo is now seeking financial assistance to buy Calvin’s medication which was prescribed by the doctor who volunteered to treat him and assess his condition.
She said Calvin was told to buy medication which must be taken twice weekly for three months which costs US$68 for a month’s supply and US$1 494 for another drug supply for three months. Said Moyo:
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I need funds to source the medication for the fits and I have run out of money, I paid for some of the things that were needed when he initially went to the hospital last week and now, I have run out of money, the little that I had that was for purchasing the wares I sell, was all used up and now I have nothing.
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In August, Calvin fell into a fire and suffered serious burns while he was in Esiphezini and had to be admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital.
The Sunday News reported that Calvin was born a normal child and only started growing excessively at about 16 years after completing his Ordinary Levels.
“Giant” now stands at over 2.1 metres tall, 130kg in weight, and wears a size 23 shoe.
Those willing to assist, please contact Ms. Sifiso Moyo on 0782852897 or The Sunday News.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwean "Giant" Admitted To A Mental Institution

Ingutsheni Central Hospital, located in Bulawayo, has run out of food provisions and detergents.
According to a letter dated 13 December 2022, and addressed to the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), the hospital’s chief medical officer, Dr. Manuwere, said they were in a crisis. Part of the letter reads:
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Due to current Budgetary constraints, the Hospital is now besieged with overwhelming problems such as a lack of food provisions, particularly mealie meal and cooking oil of which our stocks are currently fully diminished. .
As from Tuesday, the 13th of December 2022 there will be completely no mealie meal and cooking oil to feed the patients. We are in a crisis.
We are therefore urgently appealing through your office for urgent assistance.
Your urgent assistance in this pertinent matter is most welcome.
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Recent reports had suggested that there was a food crisis and an outbreak of pellagra at Ingutsheni Central Hospital but the authorities flatly denied the reports.

Ingutsheni Hospital Runs Out Of Food Provisions

All members of staff and students at Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo have been ordered to attend a ZANU PF meeting tomorrow.
According to a memo issued by the Principal Tutor, one S Ndlovu on 20 August 2020 and addressed to all DMHE staff members and students, the ZANU PF meeting will be held at the Recreation Hall. It reads:
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All members of staff and students are urged to attend an address by the Provincial Chairperson Mr J Sibanda on the 21st October 2022 at the Recreational Hall at 1400 hours.
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ZANU PF has been accused of disrupting activities at public institutions by using their premises to hold its political rallies during weekdays.
On Wednesday, thousands of teachers left classrooms to attend the launch of the Teachers for Economic Development (TeachersforED).
The union is a shadowy ZANU PF parallel structure reportedly championing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s re-election bid.
Organisers of the TeachersforED launch reportedly ordered some schools to avail buses to ferry educators from different parts of the country to HICC, according to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002216/teachers-frog-marched-to-ed-indaba">NewsDay</a>.

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