'Health Institutions May Collapse Due To Load-shedding'
The ongoing load-shedding regime is threatening the viability of private health institutions in Belgravia, it has been learnt.
Health institutions in the area include Health Point Hospital, Corporate 24, Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Haemodialysis Centre, Well Women Clinic and Target Laboratories.
Health Point Hospital head Peter Annesley said that the institutions may end up closing as the high cost of using generators is not sustainable.
He implored the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to spare essential services load-shedding. He said:
We have been on a load-shedding schedule that resulted in us going for 38 percent of the time without power.
The results of that load-shedding are putting the viability of Health Point Hospital and other healthcare institutions in the area under dire straits.
Since 8am on Tuesday (last week), Health Point Hospital alone has consumed nearly US$2 500 in diesel to keep the hospital operations running as we have a moral obligation to ensure care and commitment to our patients.
This money was spent in only four days. Imagine the bill we will have to foot at the end of the month if the situation continues like this. We will definitely no longer be viable.
We are aware of the situation Zesa and other businesses are facing, but the sad reality is that essential services are not being given priority and they inevitably face collapse.
Consequently, the medical community and the 24-hour medical facilities based in Belgravia are imploring Zesa to reconsider the load-shedding regime affecting the area.
