Amana Hospital in Dar es Salaam, which has only two doctors receives 1,600 to 1,700 patients everyday, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, David Mwakyusa was told yesterday.
The hospital’s Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Willy Sangu also told the minister, who paid an impromptu visit at the facility that, the patient congestion forces four of them to share one bed of less than a metre wide.
’Relatives who visit and spend nights with their patients at the hospital cannot even sit down as the wards are overcrowded,’ Dr Sangu told the minister.
Dr Mwakyusa made a surprise visit to the hospital to assess the situation, following reports that a child died last week while its mother was in a queue, waiting to see the doctor.
Relatives of some patients admitted to the hospital told the minister that the hospital’s services were of very poor quality.
’Those of us coming to assist our relatives who are admitted to the hospital, go through horrible experiences.
We sleep on the floor,’ said one Christine Julius.
Zena Ally, a patient, told the minister that apart from spending long hours in the queue, patients are also subjected to insults by some nurses.
’Nobody should cheat you. Today’s calmness does not portray the reality of these nurses,’ said Zena.
Speaking after touring the hospital, Prof Mwakyusa said, the government is obliged to offer a special permit to allow the expansion of the hospital.
Expansion of the hospital stopped after the contractor who was building the new building at the hospital left the country.
The Minister admitted that the situation at the hospital was pathetic.
’The government will take immediate measures to rescue this situation,’ said the minister.
The hospital faces serious problems, including lack of X-ray services, wards and scarcity of medical personnel and doctors.
The minister said some of the problems of the hospital are exacerbated from closure of Mwaisela Ward building at Muhimbili National Hospital for rehabilitation.
Prof Mwakyusa was accompanied by his Deputy, Dr Aisha Kigoda, Member of Parliament for Ilala, Musa Azzan and Dar es Salaam City Council Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deo Mtasiwa.
