Source: Life-saving surgeries on hold as thieves strip Mpilo’s power grid – herald
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
LIFE-saving surgical operations have been temporarily suspended at Mpilo Central Hospital, the country’s second largest referral health institution, following the theft of electricity cables last week in a wave of recent attacks on the hospital’s power infrastructure.
In addition to affecting theatre operations at the hospital, the theft also affected the Intensive Care Unit, renal units and X-Ray department.
In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Mr Phineas Sithole, the hospital’s acting Director of Operations, said the lives of patients were being put at risk by the criminal elements that relentlessly attack Mpilo Central Hospital’s power infrastructure.
“The theft and vandalism of electricity cables at Mpilo Hospital has now reached unprecedented levels and it affects our operations so much that it puts the lives of patients at risk.
“A few days ago, an electricity cable measuring approximately 30 metres was stolen, crippling laundry services. We had to outsource laundry services at Ingutsheni Central Hospital while another cable that supplies power to the kitchen was also stolen, leaving the hospital with minimal means to feed patients,” said Mr Sithole.
“The most devastating electricity infrastructure theft followed later in the week when criminals broke into a sub-station at the hospital and stole more cables.
“The criminal acts affected critical life-saving operations in the theatre rooms, as well as the ICU, renal units as well as the X-Ray department, putting the lives of patients at risk.
“We were forced to postpone or cancel some surgical procedures until the electricity infrastructure is restored,” he said.
Mr Sithole pleaded for the co-operation of the local community to assist in fighting the criminal acts, as the hospital’s security department is getting overwhelmed.
“The cost of replacing the stolen cables is immense. We are forced to cut budgets that are meant for other critical services to replace the vandalised infrastructure.
“The criminal acts at Mpilo seem to be co-ordinated and we are calling on the community to assist in preventing further damage to our infrastructure. It is really sad that whoever is co-ordinating these criminal acts has absolutely zero regard for the welfare of patients who might lose their lives when critical procedures such as surgical operations are disrupted,” he added.
Last year, thieves broke into a Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) sub-station housed at the hospital and stole infrastructure used to supply power to the referral hospital, forcing the medical institution to turn to diesel-powered generators.
The vandalism of power infrastructure at Mpilo continues to place immense strain on the hospital’s operations said.
Without electricity from the national grid Mpilo is forced to rely on backup diesel-powered generators.“We have 10 generators, all meant to serve as backup power sources in emergencies and they consume about 300 litres of diesel each per day, which adds up to 3,000 litres daily, costing us nearly US$4 800 every day,” added Mr Sithole.
Mpilo has a solar power system in place as part of the Solar for Health initiative, which, however, has not been integrated into the hospital’s main grid. The solar system currently only supports the hospital’s laboratories.
The theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure is a growing problem in Zimbabwe.
Zesa reported last year that over US$2 million was recorded in losses from cable theft and vandalism.Copper conductors, transformers, transformer oil and high-voltage pylons have been frequent targets, with criminals causing widespread disruptions to power supply and economic activity.
Despite Government measures imposing a minimum jail term of 10 years for cable theft, the crime continues to plague the country.
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