Beitbridge Hospital Pleads for Urgent Help as Broken Machines Shut Down Surgeries
BEITBRIDGE — Beitbridge District Hospital, which serves over 250,000 residents and thousands of daily border travellers, is appealing for urgent assistance to repair its broken X-ray and autoclaving machines — a crisis that has crippled surgical services and forced patients to travel 200km for care.
The hospital supports more than 20 primary health clinics and also serves transit passengers and communities from neighbouring districts such as Chiredzi, Mberengwa, Gwanda, and Mwenezi.
Despite Beitbridge’s rapid growth, the hospital continues to operate under a 1990s staff structure, leaving critical departments understaffed and overstretched.
This outdated setup has strained both human and material resources, especially given the hospital’s role as Zimbabwe’s busiest port of entry and a key transit hub within the SADC region.
During a field visit on Monday, District Medical Officer Dr Lenos Samhere briefed Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Albert Nguluvhe, on the hospital’s mounting challenges.
The minister was in the area to assess progress on infrastructure projects, including bridge repairs, registry upgrades, and a proposed airport.
Dr Samhere said the hospital was grateful for ongoing government support but highlighted a critical breakdown in essential equipment.
“We appreciate the Government’s efforts to improve service delivery at our institution. However, our major challenge at the moment is that we are struggling to offer services in the theatre section after our X-ray and autoclaving machines broke down,” he said.
He explained that the hospital lacks the resources to repair the machines quickly, forcing patients to seek services elsewhere.
“In the meantime, community members must travel to Gwanda — 200km away for X-ray services, and we’re transporting equipment there for sterilisation every few days. This is not sustainable,” Dr Samhere added.
According to Chronicle, the breakdown has severely disrupted maternity surgeries and emergency care for road accident victims along major highways to Bulawayo and Harare.
Dr Samhere also revealed that the hospital’s incinerator is near collapse and requires full replacement.
Financial constraints have made it difficult to secure basic medical supplies.
“At the moment, the large chunk of the administration fees we are getting is channelled to the medical care of children under the age of 5 years, senior citizens aged 65 years and above, and pregnant mothers. These are getting free medical care,” he said.
He further noted resistance from some community members who expect free treatment, which threatens the hospital’s sustainability.
“We need help educating people on the importance of paying hospital user fees for us to continue running a viable institution,” said Dr Samhere.
