‘Give our patients those eggs’ shouted one of the pluck cards held high by
the nurses at Sadza District Hospital in Chivhu who yesterday demonstrated against the poor meals served to patients.
The nurses blamed the hospital’s administrators for spending lavishly on their food while neglecting the patients’ welfare.
Part of the demonstration involved a walk by nurses from the hospital driveway to the administration block, waving placards and singing songs castigating the hospitals’ administrators.
When Newsday contacted the Sadza District Hospital medical officer Hugh Manyere for comment, he said he was busy:
I have some visitors who want to donate towards Cyclone Idai. I can’t comment at the moment.
Mashonaland East Zimbabwe Nurses’ Association chairperson Stewart Mudzingwa said that the nurses were justified in their demonstration. Said Mudzingwa:
The demonstration was justified because there are some issues which we feel should be addressed locally for smooth service delivery rather than to wait for government intervention.
A Newsday source who took part in the demonstration revealed that the administrators spend lavishly on foodstuffs such as bacon and eggs for breakfast and soft drinks, among others, as part of their daily meals.
