Nurses demand urgent action at Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital after patient dies following escape

THE Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) has called on the government to urgently address deteriorating infrastructure and security at Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital in Masvingo following the death of a mentally ill patient who escaped from the facility.

Beatrice Murera was found dead in the Tugwi River after escaping from the psychiatric hospital on June 16 through a damaged perimeter fence. Her body was recovered on Tuesday this week.

In a statement, ZINA president Enock Dongo described conditions at the institution as dire, warning that both patients and health workers were being exposed to unnecessary risks due to ageing infrastructure and inadequate security.

“The Association understands that the hospital’s perimeter fence has been in a state of disrepair for an extended period. Concerns regarding its condition have reportedly been raised on numerous occasions, with recommendations made for its urgent replacement. However, no meaningful intervention has been undertaken to address the problem.

“ZINA has also received disturbing reports that the Acute Ward, which houses patients with severe mental health conditions requiring close supervision, is in a deplorable state.

“The ward’s roof is reportedly on the verge of collapsing, posing a serious danger to both patients and staff. The damaged structure has also created additional escape points, making it easier for patients to leave the facility unnoticed,” said Dongo.

Murera’s death is not the first tragedy linked to patient’s escape from the hospital.

Another patient was previously killed by a crocodile after attempting to cross the nearby Tugwi River.

Dongo said the hospital’s proximity to the river, coupled with crumbling infrastructure, had significantly increased the risks faced by patients.

“Further compounding the situation is the loss of electricity, following the destruction of the hospital’s transformer by fire last month. The resulting power outages have left wards in darkness, particularly during winter, when the existing solar system is unable to generate sufficient electricity to provide reliable lighting throughout the night.

“These conditions significantly undermine patient security and make effective monitoring extremely difficult. The hospital’s proximity to the Tugwi River presents an even greater danger. Patients who escape from the institution face life-threatening risks, including drowning or attacks by crocodiles, making urgent improvements to security and infrastructure a matter of life and death.

“As a result of the deteriorating infrastructure and inadequate security measures, patients are reportedly able to leave the hospital premises with relative ease, exposing them to numerous dangers, including injury, exploitation and, tragically, loss of life,” added Dongo.

ZINA urged authorities to urgently rehabilitate the hospital’s infrastructure and strengthen security measures to prevent further avoidable deaths.

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