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Patients go without food
Amanda Bango, The Chronicle (Zimbabwe)
February 08, 2006

http://www.chronicle.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1814&cat=1&livedate=2/8/2006

PATIENTS at Mpilo Central Hospital have gone for five days without lunch and supper due to the severe shortage of mealiemeal in the city, Chronicle has learnt.

According to a patient who recently gave birth at the hospital, authorities at the health institution were instructing patients to tell relatives to bring them food as the hospital had run out of mealie-meal.

"We were surprised to be told by nurses at the hospital that there was no food going to be served. They said there was a serious shortage of mealie meal and instructed relatives to bring food for patients admitted in the wards," said Miss Sinikiwe Bhebhe of Pumula suburb.

Another patient, Mr Mbongeni Ncube, said the failure by the hospital to provide food to patients was also affecting relatives negatively as they too did not have mealiemeal and were being forced to buy more expensive substitutes such as rice and potatoes.

He appealed to the Government to assist the hospital authorities to source food for patients who last had isitshwala on Friday last week.

"It is really disappointing for the hospital not to be able to supply patients with food. The Government should assist the hospital to secure mealiemeal for patients as people are now being forced to buy more expensive foods such as rice and potatoes," he said.

Nurses at the hospital who refused to be named confirmed that the hospital was faced with an acute shortage of mealiemeal.

"At the moment the hospital has a serious shortage of mealiemeal. We are instructing patients to tell their relatives who visit them to bring some food. The hospital has very little mealiemeal left in stock which is hardly enough for the patients," he said.

Another nurse said supplies of mealiemeal stopped coming three weeks ago.

"The hospital has not received any mealiemeal for about three weeks now.

"The situation is very serious as food is very expensive and some relatives find it difficult to supply food and visit their relatives often because of transport costs," she said.

Efforts to get a comment from the Medical Superintendent, Dr Lindiwe Mlilo, proved fruitless as she was said to be out of the office.

Bulawayo is faced with a shortage of mealiemeal prompting the Government to probe milling companies in the city. Available mealiemeal is diverted to the black market were it is being sold at exorbitant prices.

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