POWER disruptions have crippled operations at Mpilo Central Hospital since Thursday.
Ward 2 councillor Adrian Moyo said operations at the hospital have been severely affected following the power cut.
“I got the information that a Zesa substation near the hospital developed a fault,” he said.
“The hospital is in darkness compromising activities.”
Moyo said another resident failed to get emergency services at the hospital when he took his brother, who had been injured in an accident, there.
“He said the nurses and doctors said they cannot assist him in the darkness after his brother was brought by an ambulance and spent nearly four hours before being attended to,” he said.
According to reports, nurses and doctors indicated that they could not do anything since most of the equipment they use require electricity.
“They are saying there is always a backup power system, a generator, but they are not giving us a straight answer as to why the generator is not working,” Moyo said.
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He highlighted that he also tried to inquire about the generator to no avail.
“We are now in a fix considering that Mpilo Hospital is a referral centre for Bulawayo and Matabeleland provinces, but due to such a disaster, we are no longer able to access affordable health services.
“Now patients are being forced to seek services at private health facilities, which are too expensive.
“Mpilo Hospital, the largest referral institution saving Bulawayo and Matabeleland provinces, has been plunged into a crippling blackout, exposing patients and staff to a deepening health crisis.”
Mpilo Central Hospital acting CEO Solwayo Ngwenya said he was unaware of the situation.
“I cannot say anything, I was away,” he said.
“I am just arriving from Harare now.
“You can inquire with the public relations department so that they can assist you.”
The Mpilo Public Relations Department accused community members of vandalising the substation and shifting the blame to the hospital.
Efforts to get a comment from Zesa western region general manager Shepherd Dadi were unsuccessful as his was not picking up his phone, but indications as of midday yesterday were that they were running around to repair the substation.
