INMATES at Melfort Farm Old People’s Home about 40km along Mutare Road, have accused government of neglecting and failing to allocate adequate money to cater for their daily needs.
By Idah Mhetu
Melfort Farm Old People’s Home board member Nesta Hatendi said government’s neglect of old people’s homes throughout the country had made it difficult for caregivers to look after the elderly.
Hatendi was speaking during the handover of blankets and various food stuffs donated by the South African Embassy to mark Nelson Mandela Day commemorations.
The home caters for 25 old people.
“There is supposed to be a fund from the government which is supposed to be allocated in homes,” Hatendi said.
“Look at the national budget and the ZimAsset (government’s economic blue print), money is going to ministries like Defence while neglecting the welfare of the elderly. This year our organization did not get the funds we were supposed to be allocated in February and until now, we have received no funding.”
The home’s board chairman Bernard Hatendi said: “The board itself is not fit to pay for the social workers. For the meantime the board has one nurse who volunteered to take care of these old people. The organisation is in dire need of a vehicle to ferry the old people to the hospital for check-ups.
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He added; “I have asked a friend of mine, a doctor to help us with medication and check-ups since we are not able to ferry our patients to the nearest hospital. But we have failed even to offer the doctor transport allowance.”
Zimbabwe is facing a serious economic meltdown that has seen government struggling to pay its workers and to contain the spiraling unemployment rate, leaving donors to provide social protection services.
