Here is why Beitbridge Hospital needs more ambulances
By Gracious Nyathi
Beitbridge East Legislator Albert Nguluvhe bemoaned the shortage of ambulances in Beitbridge, the border town between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
According to ZIMSTATS, the city has a population of 58 000 locals, while at least 13 000 people pass through in transit daily.
Ambulance shortages make critical, urgent medical services, exclusive for the elite as patients have to provide fuel.
Speaking at the 2023 Pre-Budget Seminar, Honorable Nguluvhe said the border town was a gateway into the country from neighboring South Africa. Beitbridge receives thousands of people in transit on a daily basis and the ambulance cannot cater for travelers and locals.
“The city receives a lot of people who will be traveling to and from South Africa from all over the SADC region.
“One ambulance is insufficient to serve the entire population of Beitbridge Urban and Rural as well as the people who pass through the town,” Nguluvhe said.
“The ambulance shortage has been worsening because Beitbridge numbers of residents keep growing since a lot of people migrate to the border town owing to its proximity to South Africa,” said Nguluvhe.
Furthermore, a group of residents known as Friends Of Beitbridge alleviated the problem, which the hospital has been experiencing for over ten years.
The group rolled out a fundraising initiative to gather R250 000 to restore the ambulance fleet of Beitbridge hospital.
Moreover, the rest of Matebeleland South province is facing an acute shortage of ambulances and this has seen each district operating with just one vehicle.
Honourable Sipho Mokone
Matebeleland South legislator, Sipho Mokone also lamented the shortage of ambulances in the province and cited exclusivity as the major challenge.
“Ambulance remittance from Gwanda to Bulawayo is 150 United States Dollars and it is out of the reach of many.
“The people who need the help with ambulance transportation do not afford the exorbitant amount and this leads to loss of lives which could be avoided if ambulances are available,” Mokone said.
However, the Vice President, Constantino Chiwenga who doubles as the Minister of Health and Child Care acknowledged the existence of the problem and promised to repair broken-down vehicles.
“I had a meeting with the CEO for the insurance company of Zimbabwe and I am happy that they are going to be repairing 19 ambulances, this is the beginning but it is too little and too late, anyway we accept,” said Chiwenga.
Here is why Beitbridge Hospital needs more ambulances
