Staff Writer
Norton Member of the House of Assembly, Hon Temba Mliswa yesterday handed over more than 160 sheets of bed linen and blankets to Norton Hospital.
Speaking to hospital staff, patients and visitors who gathered to witness the donation, Hon Mliswa lauded the corporate sector for heeding his pleas to assist in bettering the deplorable conditions and lack of resources at the hospital.
“What I have brought here is a consignment donated by one of the biggest hotels in Harare. I approached them some time back asking them to help you after you told me of the requirement during a previous visit here and they gave me this. I hope it goes some way in alleviating the shortage of bedding material here,” he said.
One of the biggest corporates in the country, which is the main contractor at one of Norton’s biggest construction projects, sent a representative who toured the hospital complex together with the MP. The construction company intends to help the hospital by making necessary renovations and equipment upgrades.
The tour took the delegation to the hospital’s incinerator, which has been rendered useless over the years, the laundry section which has noticeably outdated equipment which is now overwhelmed by the laundry volumes, wards and the front hall. The nurses tea room resembles a farm shed, with just two benches and no tables, lighting or power source.
Commenting during the tour, a hospital official said the hospital itself now needs to expand as it is now catering for a bigger number than what it was originally designed for. It now handles more than 100 inpatients at peak while it is designed as a 60-bed institution.
Thanking the MP for the donation, a hospital official said the timing of the linen donation was testimony of Gods work plan.
“Just this week, as we were deliberating on how to spend a recent small financial fortune we received, we agreed that it goes towards buying blankets and sheets. We intended to purchase those in the next few days and we had budgeted for a number smaller than this. Then the MP comes through with this big donation. It will certainly go a long way as it frees the hospital to re-channel the little it gets to other needs,” he said.
He also took time to visit every ward at Norton Hospital to wish patients not only a speedy recovery, but a happy Easter Holiday.
“I know you are in pain, yet we must not forget the pain suffered by Jesus for all of us. That is the spirit of Easter, to remind each other of the story of salvation,” he said in one ward.
Several new mothers in the maternity wards also received cash from the MP as he went the traditional way of welcoming the newly-borns to the world.
“Yes I brought you these Easter eggs. But traditionally, proceedings do not start until I say “makorokoto” to those of you with new babies here,” said the MP.
“Those who have not yet given birth, make sure you go into labour before I leave so that ndinokupaiwo makorokoto andapa vamwe,” he continued as he joked with the expectant mothers.
He went around giving a chocolate Easter egg to every patient and wishing them well.