Power finally restored at Mpilo Hospital
BULAWAYO – Electricity has finally been restored at Mpilo Central Hospital which had gone for five days in the dark after a switch connecting the hospital to a Zesa transformer caught fire.
Mpilo was reconnected yesterday after Mimosa Mine intervened and donated the 630-amp ring mains unit which had exploded to cause the power outage.
Electricians from the Department of Public Works had fitted the switch by early morning yesterday before Zesa switched on Mpilo at around 3pm, bringing relief to patients admitted to the health institution.
The hospital had suspended routine surgical operations, as it was facing difficulties in sterilising gowns and surgical instruments.
Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Wedu Ndebele confirmed the development and praised Mimosa for their support.
“Yes electricity is back at Mpilo and we are grateful to Mimosa for assisting us in this time of need. If it were not for their support, I’m sure it would have taken us longer to fix the problem.
“I also urge other corporates to take a cue from what Mimosa has done and support us in our quest to provide quality health care to Bulawayo,” he said.
Following the power outage, Mpilo had been running on generators to power emergency and critical wards such as the maternity, intensive care unit (ICU) and theatre departments.
The unavailability of power also temporarily interrupted the supply of water on Monday afternoon which was restored after a generator was connected at the radiotherapy centre.
The health institution caters for patients from the western end of the city as well as referral cases from the country’s Southern region including Gweru, Beitbridge, Victoria Falls and Masvingo.
The hospital is owed $16 million by patients and has engaged debt collectors in a bid to recover the money.
Mpilo hospital also owes creditors about $2 million.
On Thursday last week, the hospital held its first ever investor and donor conference that saw individuals and companies donating money, machines and medicines.
Mpilo treated more than four million patients between 1991 and 2013, according to hospital authorities. Sunday News
