To start with, a patient who had been admitted to the hospital but did not get treated for over a month due to a lack of equipment, was yesterday transferred to a different hospital and received the treatment he needed.
The MNH management dug deep into their pockets and paid for the patient, identified by the single name of Makange, to be taken to Besta Health Centre in Kinondoni Municipality where he got the needed treatment.
The President who visited Makange’s ward was shocked by the situation at the facility and ordered the patient be treated promptly and even offered to cover his expenses.
During his visit at the hospital, the president found critical medical equipment such as C-T scans and RMI machines were completely defective for over two months and patients left in limbo.
Shortly after the screening, the patient called on public servants to fulfill their responsibilities without being pushed by a third-part.
“I am very grateful I have finally got the service,” said the patient who represents hundreds of patients who were yesterday found hundreds of people scattered all along the hospital corridors restlessly waiting for a medical appointment.Jesca Makunze Jembe who spoke to The Guardian at the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) said she was at the hospital as early as 7:00 am but had not yet seen a doctor well into the afternoon.
“The hospital should have announced there is no service today,” lamented the patient.
Seconding the view and discontent, another patient who preferred anonymity expressed grave disappointment with the nurses charged of alleging cases of favouritism for persons they know.
“We are here since 8:00 am, it’s now around 1:00 pm. The nurse has not been abiding to the number system. She keeps on calling people she knows and we suspect some patients are offering bribes to speed up services,” he claimed.
Johanes Munis from Dar es Salaam, who had been in queue for about three hours, complained about the hospital’s failure to allocate enough consultation room for the doctors.
“There are more patients than facilities, am very disappointed with this situation as we’re spending more time waiting for doctors who we actually have no idea whether will consult us on not,” he lamented.
MOI Public Relations Officer Almas Jumaa admitted there are more patients at the hospital than the facility can handle but reassured the public that the management is setting up another building whose construction is near completion.
“At least 12bn/- has been earmarked for the procurement of diagnostics and other medical appliances...the treasury has endorsed the budget and the tendering process has begun,” he said.
As the maintenance of medical equipment as ordered by Presdient John Magufuli during his impromptu visit, Aminiel Aligaisha, Head of Communications Unit at Muhimbili National Hospital said the government has contracted Philips to maintain all the deactivated facilities.
“The company will soon start maintenance of the equipment considering that the government agreed to clear the bill it owes,” he said.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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