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Walter Nyamukondiwa Mashonaland West Bureau
Government has assured Kariba residents that resources will be mobilised for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a section of Kariba District Hospital that was gutted by fire last week.

Speaking during an assessment tour of the pharmacy, radiology and human resources sections destroyed by fire, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said a report on the extent of damage would be presented to Cabinet this week.

“I have been sent by the President to make an assessment of the damage caused by the fire so that appropriate resources are mobilised depending on what needs to be done,” he said.

“I have seen the damage and it is quite extensive. We lost all the drugs and equipment in the affected sections which need to be replaced. The President has promised that once an inventory of what is needed is presented resources will be availed.”

Fire at the Kariba District Hospital started from the pharmacy section and spread to the radiology, casualty and human resources sections destroying drugs, X-ray and ultrasound equipment.

The hospital had drug stocking levels of 76 percent which were all destroyed in the fire.

A makeshift pharmacy has been established with drugs mobilised by the provincial medical director from surrounding clinics while more were expected at the weekend from National Pharmaceutical Services. Government has also mobilised a mobile X-ray bus to provide radiology services.

Minister Moyo said everything was being done to ensure minimum disruption of service.

“We want to make sure that all the services are available on a temporary basis while reconstruction or rehabilitation is being undertaken,” he said.

“It is important that we do that because the nearest health service provider offering radiology is about 160km away in Karoi, which is not ideal.”

Although the hospital infrastructure, consumables and equipment were destroyed, Minister Moyo said, Government was relieved that the fire did not claim any lives.

He said a comprehensive assessment would be made following another fire that destroyed equipment in the Mbuya Nehanda Hospital at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals about a month ago.

“We want a thorough investigation into the cause of the fires so that precautionary measures are taken to avoid similar occurrences,” he said.

Minister Moyo was accompanied by Health and Child Care secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji, Mashonaland West provincial medical director Dr Wenceslaus Nyamayaro and members of Kariba District Civil Protection Unit, among others.