A RECENT parliamentary investigation on youth empowerment, development and vocational training on the state of drug and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation centres has revealed that Gwanda and St Luke’s hospitals in Matabeleland South and North provinces do not have enough drug and rehabilitation centres, leaving youths in those regions without proper avenues for recovery.
The report revealed that at the present moment, the hospitals lack the capacity to accommodate individuals requiring substance and drug abuse rehabilitation.
“Gwanda and St Luke’s hospitals lack the capacity to accommodate individuals requiring substance and drug abuse rehabilitation. Consequently, psychiatric patients are referred to Ingutsheni Central Hospital,” the report read.
“All the hospitals visited do not have adequate infrastructure and facilities and they are overwhelmed by the number of admissions which exceed their carrying capacity.
“Ngomahuru Hospital in Masvingo, though dilapidated and seemingly marginalised, holds significant potential due to its extensive land and is Zimbabwe’s second-largest psychiatric facility after Ingutsheni Hospital.”
The report indicated that some patients remain in the hospitals permanently after being abandoned by families and relatives such as at Ngomahuru and Ingutsheni Central Hospital, further straining resources.
The report stated that as of June 24 last year, Ingutsheni, with a capacity of 708, had 565 patients.
The findings revealed that, unfortunately, after four to eight weeks of inadequate treatment, these patients are released back into the community.
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Moreso, the shortage of medication puts workers at risk as some patients may become violent and without the necessary drugs, staff is unable to manage these situations effectively.
“Despite Ingutsheni Hospital receiving medicines from Egypt, it still faces shortages of critical medications like Chlorpromazine and Diazepam as well as essential anti-craving and aversive drugs necessary for effective rehabilitation,” the report read.
“The committee observed that some of the institutions earmarked for conversion into rehabilitation centres such as St Luke’s and Mzilikazi Male Circumcision Centres have not yet received any communication in that regard.”
The committee recommended that the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry should implement strategies to motivate nurses, particularly those serving in rural areas through the provision of monetary and non-monetary incentives.
