Emkhuzweni Health Centre remains the worst hospital in Eswatini

Buhleni– Emkhuzweni Health Centre in the Hhohho region remains one of the worst hospitals under the Ministry of Health in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

The Hospital which was one of the most celebrated and cherished in the Kingdom during the 70s, has now become a shadow of its former glory.

During its glorious era, Emkhuzweni Health Centre was the pride of the Northern region of Eswatini and used to employ healthy professionals who were passionate and extremely dedicated to serve the people.

However, in recent time, the situation at the medical facility is a far cry from the ideal.

The hospital, suffering from inadequate medical facilities, is gradually falling into decay, becoming, according to many observers, a mee consulting outfit.

Some of those who patronized the hospital in recent weeks have been critical of the quality of services rendered there. Many expressed their dismay over the non-availability of basic equipment one would expert in a hospital of such a status.

Ordinary scanners that are available in public hospitals are not available there. Patients are referred to either Piggs Peak or Mbabane for a scanner.

Emkhuzweni Health Centre is no doubt one of several health care centres in some rural areas of the region that operate in an inappropriate and hazardous conditions.

Elderly people around the area however confirmed that Emkhuzweni Hospital was at some stage one of the best hospitals under white management some decades ago, and they have no idea what could have led to the deteriorating state of the hospital.

During a visit by this journalist, patients in the hospital wait for hours in accident and emergency departments before they see a health professional.

An investigation into conditions in Emkhuzweni “clearly showed” that the health care in this hospital is deteriorating on a broad front.

It is particularly alarming that the problems faced by the hospital have been raised repeatedly by hospital staff and journalists over the years – and while promises have been made, there is little evidence of trying to remedy the situation.

The Health Centre has a shortage of staff, especially nurses and doctors. Patients who queue for long hours, are often attended by not less than two doctors.

The waiting is unbearably long. The hospital has been no constant water supply for months.

Patients are unable to wash themselves and there is only a small amount of container water available for using the toilets,

As we walked through the wards during visiting hours, the patients have no privacy. There are no doors or curtains. The wards smell, and the bed linen is dirty.

Patients interviewed expressed their dissatisfaction over the way nurses treat them at this hospital. “We are often told to be strong, even though we are sick and weak.”

“These people in this hospital do not care and have no respect for another human being,” said one patient who was waiting to receive his file.

The patient added that nurses often tell them that the hospital has no drugs – since government is not supplying enough medicine for patients.

“When you come for medical check-up in this hospital, it is expected highly that you may not go back home alive –Mkhuzweni is a horrible hospital.”

“Our elderly people are reluctant to be admitted here, because they fear they may not return home,” said another frustrated patient.

Poor management, budgetary constraints and a lack of care for the needs of patients plague this public facility – and it is the people who suffer the most.

Most people interviewed expressed their frustrations over the Eswatini Government’s lack of intervention during situations like this one. “The situation needs an urgent attention,” said patients who preferred to remain anonymous.

They added they feel that government does not care enough about their wellbeing and only concentrates in improving hospitals in urban areas. “We urge our government to come down and see for itself what is happening in this hospital,” they said.

During a walk-about, we found that numerous wheelchairs are lined up in most corridors, paint is peeling on walls, most windows are broken, and almost all floor tiles are missing and crack walls.

The hospital yard is not well maintained, and patients fear that the long uncut grass might hide snakes that could harm them and their children when visiting the hospital.

Surprisingly, government marked vehicles, including ambulances, we are told, have been broken and some are parked under trees without being repaired for years.

Not even one ambulance was seen to be in good condition, and we learned that every sick patient uses his or her own transport to come to hospital.

“The situation is so bad in such that some patients die before reaching the hospital,” sad a resident.

The Eswatini Ministry of Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mr Khanyakwezwe Mabuza did not respond to questions, numerous calls and WhatsApp’s at the time of developing this article.