Mpilo Central hospital overwhelmed

The maternal ward at Mpilo Central hospital in Bulawayo is overwhelmed with an influx of women giving birth following the scrapping of maternal fees at the institution.
Mpilo Chief Executive officer, Mr Leonard Mabandi has raised concern over the influx of women giving birth at the hospital as there is a critical shortage of beds at the maternity ward and women are now sleeping on the floor while others are squatting in corridors.
Minister of health and child care, Dr Obadiah Moyo said the council health department should help the government in easing the situation at the hospital as newly born babies are vulnerable to contracting diseases under such conditions.
The hospital used to deliver an average of 25 babies per day, but the figure has doubled to over 50 babies per day and the institution now has a waiting list of one thousand women awaiting to deliver.