Mothers give birth on floors in Gwanda

Comment & Analysis
BY SILAS NKALA Bulawayo — Women in labour at a clinic in Gwanda are forced to deliver their babies on the floor as the institution does not have beds, an official has revealed.

Garanyemba Clinic in Gwanda South, which opened its doors last year also lacks office furniture and potable water.

Maureen Chitanga, the sister-in-charge at the clinic told members of the Zimbabwe Unemployed People’s Association (Zupa) who donated various items that the institution was struggling to get basics.

“We also have no stretchers or wheelchairs to carry those who are unable to move on their own,” she said.

“All the wards have no curtains and that exposes the patients to passersby.”

The clinic has maternity, male, female and the outpatient wings.

Chitanga said the male and female wards also had no beds. Eight beds are needed for all the wards.

“We also do not have drug trolleys and file shelves. We would appreciate if somebody donated these,” she said.

Chitanga said they only have  10 benches, which were donated by the Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development, Nicholas Goche recently.

Zupa donated 10 bags of cement, 10 dishes, four 20-litre buckets for fetching water, 10 blankets, plumbing material for water connection to the clinic, cotton wool, gloves as well as some clothes.