Our central hospitals cry for serious attention
TENETS of transformational leadership are idealised influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individual consideration.
These leadership principles influence significant changes in individuals and social systems.
In general, employees are encouraged and inspired to innovate and develop new ways to grow and improve the path to an organisation’s success.
Lately, social media has been awash with news that things are not good at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital where there appears to be no running water, no essential drugs, linen and other basic items that are required on a daily basis.
It is flabbergasting to note that a central hospital serving the majority of city dwellers as well as many others referred from various districts is allowed to deteriorate to such a frightening state in this era and age.
One wonders why our central hospitals suffer incessantly when there is great potential to improve.
A poor health delivery system is never good for an economy and health financing is part of the six building blocks of a strong health system if a country is to attain the desired health delivery service.
We are happy that Gweru Provincial Hospital has been upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility with a modern intensive care unit, high dependency unit, digital radiological unit, modern outpatient department, refurbished wards and improved general outlook.
We pay tribute to the hospital chief medical officer, Fabian Mashingaidze for a job well done.
The upgrading of Gweru Hospital is sweet news for every citizen of this country, with medical students from Midlands State University set to benefit immensely from the development.
Questions, however, linger in my mind as to why Sally Mugabe, Parirenyatwa and Chitungwiza hospitals continue to struggle when health service delivery is expected to be robust.
Everyone understands that funding in the health sector has been limited because of inadequate budgetary allocations.
The Abuja Declaration of 2001 calls for at least 15% of the national budget to be allocated to the health sector.
Alas, Zimbabwe allocated 10,6%, 11,2% and 10,8% of total budget in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
What it means is that there is need to cover the financing gap by an innovative leadership.
I believe that some of the hospital bosses may not have the requisite qualifications for their esteemed offices, a phenomenon that may be driven by patronage, favouritism and nepotism, however, everyone should understand the significance of meritocracy in any organisation.
Some of my medical colleagues say they are finding it difficult to donate to some of our central hospitals because the process is arduous and it is frustrating a lot of people.
The bureaucratic system of governance is prohibiting fellow Zimbabweans from donating to Sally Mugabe, Parirenyatwa, Mpilo, UBH, or Chitungwiza.
Some of my colleagues said they wanted to drill boreholes at one of these hospitals, but the lethargic process left them wondering if it is a crime to positively contribute to the growth of our healthcare system.
Who is stalling such commendable initiatives by fellow citizens?
Is it the top government officials, the ministry officials, the hospital executives or it is mere maladministration at local level?
It is time to liberalise the donations to hospitals as long as they are vetted and deemed safe and relevant for the country and healthcare facilities.
The country requires transformational leaders who can drive our health forward.
Having rigid hospital executives who cannot think outside the box is tantamount to health suicide and many lives will be lost because of managerial incompetence.
If Wicknell Chivhayo can purchase cars worth millions of dollar for artists, I do not think he will refuse to sort the miserable water system at Sally Mugabe Hospital if he is approached.
Open the doors for every Zimbabwean citizen; one more dollar is better than nothing.