via Patients suffer as machines breakdown 04/11/2014
DIALYSIS machines at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo have broken down, forcing many renal patients in Matabeleland region to fork out lots of money travelling to Harare and neighbouring South Africa seeking dialysis services.
Patients with kidney ailments who spoke to NewZimbabwe.com in Bulawayo said their lives were in danger because they could not afford the huge travelling and treatment costs charged by private and government hospitals in Harare.
According to the patients, currently dialysis services can only be accessed at Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Harare hospitals as well as at the Dialysis Centre in Avondale.
“It pains me a lot that Mpilo machines are not being repaired while I and other patients travel all the way to Harare to get treatment,” said Dave Ncube who has been living with the aliment for the past four years.
“I travel to Avondale dialysis centre twice a week and fork out $265 per every session. On top of that, I am also expected to buy my own dialysis kit. In Zimbabwe being a renal patient is as good as being on death row yet this disease can be managed.”
Ncube said a lot of patients in the region have lost their lives because they could not afford the costs associated with the disease.
“One would have thought that since the country’s late first lady, Sally Mugabe succumbed to a kidney ailment, her death would have nudged the government to prioritise the establishment of more dialysis centres.”
President Robert Mugabe’s first wife Sally died in 1992 after battling with kidney trouble for a long time.
However, the pledge has remained a pipe dream as hundreds of patients who are unable to fork out the high fees charged by hospitals remain hopeless.
“I have been forced to reduce my treatment sessions from three sessions a week to one because of the costs. I am now staying with a relative in Harare as a cost cutting measure,” said Anesu Moyo, another renal patient.
Health and Child Welfare minister, David Parirenyatwa has been quoted by the media on several occasions saying his ministry was doing “everything possible” to have the Bulawayo machines repaired but nothing has happened.
Ncube said he has also raised the issue with Parirenyatwa on numerous occasions.
COMMENTS
It is surprising that the dialysis machines giving problems are in Bulawayo where we have a university supposed to be teaching high technology.Why not give these machines to NUST for repairs since these machines have basic pumping units and computer control units with numerous power outputs for various circuits within its control stages plus a battery bank.
I think some of the faults are within power units and control units.If these are of MAXIM make then it is easy to get complete replacement card units provided those who fault them approach the faulting procedure systematically.These universities should be seen to be practically involved in the communities they operate.
Recently our doctors managed a complicated operation to separate siamese twins,therefore our professors in technology should be able to repair these machines.I do not believe that a machine with the right manufacturer’s circuit diagram cannot be repaired unless it has no such diagram.
Well said Mixed race they should have people of your calibre. Will speaking to Mr. Coltart or Mr. Cross assist with your idea??
This is really a tragic which should not be allowed to happen.We have a university[NUST] a few kilometres from Mpilo Hospital supposed to be having the latest technology to teach young scientists. The minister of health should ask this university to have a look at these faulty dialysis machines,provided the manufacturer’s circuit diagrams are available.Any equipment with a proper diagram can be repaired provided the approach is right.
If these machines are from Maxim, a reputable company,then it is easy to source the spares for them.Surely,these machines have well controlled pumps, monitoring units and computer controlled units for operational accuracy.
I would not be surprised that most of the faults are within their well controlled power sections which give stable power outputs for different voltages needed to keep the pumps and other units working within computer controlled limits.
A few months ago our local doctors were able to carry out a complicated siamese twins separation operation with great success,therefore let this university try and be allowed to approach a few locals with past experience to assist them in the faulting process.A simply press statement in the press would alert the interested persons to come forward to assist. Our community needs help so we should assist with great joy.
well said again Mixed race