The Sunday News
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sunday News Correspondent
THE shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at major Covid-19 referral centres has pushed a group of Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, under the Hope Restorers Academy (HRA) to give an assortment of medical sundries to complement health delivery system in Bulawayo.
Medical practitioners who among those on frontline to combat the novel coronavirus have been complaining that there was not enough equipment to protect themselves and patients, as the country fights the spread of the virus. City hospitals that include the Thorngrove Isolation Centre, United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital were designated health facilities to deal with Covid-19 cases.
While all have from time to time got PPE assistance from the Government and private organisations, it was not adequate.
Hope Restorers Academy made an undertaking on Thursday last week to give a load of PPEs to Thorngrove Hospital, following calls for support. Receiving the consignment sourced by Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni said Hope Restorers Academy have left an indelible mark in its continuing efforts to help boost the city’s health delivery system. He called upon residents and health professionals in the city to remain hopeful in fighting the virus.
Hope Restorers Academy spokesperson Ms Brenda Masauso said theirs was a call to serve and change communities for the better.
“There is a never a time that we as the Hope Restorers Academy will sit and our communities suffer. We endevour to assist our health facilities for the benefit of all who reside in Bulawayo. We opted to assist at Thorngrove Hospital after learning that there was a dire need for PPEs. Working with individuals based abroad, we took up the initiative to source an array of medical equipment needed to fight off and combat Covid-19. The work is not finished yet, we will continue assisting the city,” she said.
