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A journey to hell of a pregnant Harare mother

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The ambulance is a supposed to be a vehicle that gives you hope for recovery from an affliction and whenever we hear that high pitched siren as it approaches, we immediately trust that someone is being transported to a hospital where they will be given maximum care

The ambulance is a supposed to be a vehicle that gives you hope for recovery from an affliction and whenever we hear that high pitched siren as it approaches, we immediately trust that someone is being transported to a hospital where they will be given maximum care.

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This should be the norm but for Jackie Mbayiwa-Makuvatsine who told AMH voices that when she was in labour being transported by a city of Harare ambulance to Mbuya Nehanda maternity clinic she felt she was in an old relic being transported to hell.

Inside the city of Harare ambulance
Inside the city of Harare ambulance

In her words: “The Oxygen cylinders in the ambulance are held together by a bandage- a symbol of the sickness in quality. They rub against each other when the vehicle is moving to give you one of the worst irritating noises you would least expect from such an important vehicle.”

A basin sink in one of the toilets at Mbuya Nehanda maternity clinic
A basin sink in one of the toilets at Mbuya Nehanda maternity clinic

She continues: “The agony of an expecting mother starts when boarding one of these hell houses. But if you thought this is all you see, wait till you reach the maternity home.”

As her pictures show the toilet basin sink look filthy and rusty.

“I just took the pictures so that you can have a feel the pain of an expectant mother. Others should see the conditions we are being subjected to.”