Zimbabwe’s only coronavirus referral hospital has just closed. Wilkins Hospital is run by the City of Harare and is the hospital where Zimbabwe’s first covid-19 victim was referred to.
The reasons for the closure are not clear as the City of Harare and the medical staff at the health institution are giving conflicting statements. According to the City of Harare health services director Prosper Chonzi, who was interviewed by Newsday, the hospital is under renovations. “The Chinese are still working on the renovations and so we have moved to Nazareth (Beatrice Road Infectious Diseases Hospital). Wilkins is still being renovated and will remain shut until the process is complete,” he said.
However, medical staff who spoke on condition of anonymity have said the medical facility has been deserted following the death of Zororo Makamba.
Chonzi added that screening of patients for the coronavirus was still being done at Wilkins Hospital, but nurses at the medical centre refuted the claim, saying all staff had deserted the centre.
Reports surfacing from the city of Harare point to the lack of commitment from the government to resource the hospital. The government is yet to deposit $100,000 promised to the hospital. The renovations that are currently being done are being carried out by Chinese contractors financed by the Chinese embassy.
The third coronavirus case in Zimbabwe, a 57 year old male who had travelled to Dubai, has been transferred to Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital.