CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER CCH weekly is a publication of the Chitungwiza Central Hospital Chief Executive Office and Public Relations Office designed to highlight hospital news and upcoming events. CONTENTS: ZERA URGES PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO EMULATE CCH DEPARTMENT OF THE WEEK-TRANSPORT CCH, ADVENTISTS IN HEALTH EXPO
ZERA URGES PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO EMULATE CCH ZERA Consumer services officer Flora Ngwenya chatting to CCH Operations Director Washington Machiridza during the hospital tour By Kundai Kufandirori-PR Intern Mass Comm Harare Poly Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has urged all public hospitals in Zimbabwe to take a leaf from Chitungwiza Central Hospital (CCH) and attain ISO certification in order to provide quality health service delivery in the country. ZERA finance director, Eddington Mazambani said this after touring CCH with other staff members from the energy regulatory authority recently. I am quite impressed with what I have seen here today. I haven t been to this hospital in a very long time and today I don t even regret my visit, because it was worthwhile, said Mazambani. Mazambani also paid tribute to the hospital staff and board members for striving hard to maintain the ISO certification standard, adding that it shows public health services providers in the country such as CCH are pacing for greater heights. The tour was facilitated by CCH operations director Mr Washington Machiridza, who introduced the ZERA team to the E -health pilot project at the hospital which they are using under the SAP system. E-health project will see the hospital going paperless because everything will be entered into the hospital s database, including the patients details, we are waiting for His Excellency President Robert Mugabe to commission the project, said Machiridza during the tour. The team toured a number of departments around the institution including the four-star WHO-rated medical laboratory in Zimbabwe, which is partnering with ACCUMED in order to improve laboratory services at the hospital. We operate a state-of-the-art laboratory in Zimbabwe and we are in the process of introducing what is called interface results, in which we are utilising the E-Health system. Once our machines are done testing the blood or urine samples it will immediately and automatically post the results to the computer, said Nyakuedzwa, laboratory scientist. Winnet Ngoma, who was part of the ZERA team, also applauded the work being done at the hospital saying the tour was really an eye-opener. When Mr Machiridza and Mr Chifamba came to ZERA to give their presentation about the hospital I thought they were just mere glitters on paper and nothing inside to compliment the glitter, but today I am very impressed, said Ngoma. Machiridza also took the opportunity to explain about the public-private partnerships, also known as joint venture partnerships, which were behind most of the achievements at the hospital to make sure that standards are well-maintained. Our partners include the Balloon Flight which works with the pharmacy in providing drugs, Accumed which works with the laboratory, Optinova which works with the eye clinic, Doves which works with the mortuary department, Mahiya Trading which has a canteen and kiosk at the hospital and Baines Imaging Group which works with the X-ray department. All these partners are well versed with the day-to-day running of the hospital and we really appreciate them, said the operations director. ZERA are in the process of attaining the ISO certification and said that with the experience they have gained during the tour they were confident of achieving that goal, said Ngwenya an internal auditor at ZERA. With what we have seen here today, I am pretty sure we now know which direction to take, we have already done our internal audits and external audits will be done very soon so we will to continue work with the hospital, she said. This is not the first time the energy regulator has visited the hospital this year, as a few months ago ZERA came with a plan to help the hospital to install a solar power plant, which will supply electricity for the institution and surrounding areas. This tour was organised in order for ZERA to have an practical appreciation of operations at CCH revolving around ISO certification. CCH deputy matron D Chairuka with ZERA officials Editor Audrey Tasaranarwo Associate Editors Richmore Tera & Nyasha Chipembere Photographers M Ngwenya & A Tasaranarwo Design and Layout Audrey Tasaranarwo 2
DEPARTMENT OF THE WEEK-TRANSPORT Patient Transportation (Transfers and Pre-Hospital Care) Monitoring and supervision of staff especially students who are community secondment in rural areas. Haulage of medical logistics such as drugs, equipment and blood products, among others. Specialist Outreach Services which include conducting free medical consultation and covering state occasions. General administrative assignments like the delivery of letters and other important documents. CCH drivers from left M Mukuya & T Kunonga By Michael Ngwenya PR Intern Sociology GUZ CHITUNGWIZA Central Hospital (CCH) s transport department stands out as one of the most crucial departments at the institution and it is responsible for the transportation of patients to and from the hospital, collection of vital pharmaceuticals from Natpharm and other institutions as well as the carrying out of other duties as assigned. The department, which falls under the Operations Division and has a staff compliment of 15 drivers, is headed by a young man who holds an International Diploma with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transports (C.I.L.T-UK). Our primary mission is to ensure the availability and reliability of transport as an essential logistic for the delivery of health services; and to do this in the most cost effective and efficient manner, said Mr Decide Mapuranga, who heads the department. Mr Mapuranga said he starts the day by route planning and scheduling. He then allocates vehicles to the drivers. He went on to explain that staff in his department have five Ordinary Levels while others are holders of Advanced Level certificates. As an institution we are proud of our highly qualified drivers who do not have to try to evade police roadblocks due to lack of qualifications, added Mr Mapuranga. The transport department is key to the institution although it faces various challenges that can bring business at the institution to a standstill had it not been for the forward-thinking approach of management at the hospital who always ensure that the wheels are always rolling. The department is also responsible for ferrying hospital staff to various official destinations. The general roles of transport in the service are outlined as follows: Some drivers have Class 2 drivers licences and others first class. All drivers are ambulance technicians trained by MARS and City of Harare. CCH is fortunate enough to have three state accredited drivers that take part in state duties. Surely this brings out why CCH is the only I.S.O certified public hospital for everything associated with this institution is of great quality. These three drivers, Mr Abel Panganai, Mr Tapiwa Kunonga and Mr Robson Mutsau are assigned for state occasions such as conferences, burial of heroes, sports and local events. They have gone as far as Chimoio in Mozambique, Kariba and Victoria Falls.These drivers were chosen because of their commitment and hard work. The Transport department also has challenges like the shortage of vehicles. The few that they have exceeded their lifespan and some of the vehicles are held in garages due to unsettled debts but this however does not hinder the loyal drivers in this department from performing their required duties. CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL NURSES GRADUATION & PRIZE GIVING DAY which was scheduled for 13 October has been deferred to 27 October 2017. Venue: Chitungwiza Central Hospital Time : 0800hrs Contact Public Relations Office on cell 077412811 or land line 0270-31138 or 31843 3
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT STAFF From left CCH drivers T Samhere, M Matasva, A Panganai & D Taderera One of CCH drivers Robson Mutsau CCH HOD Transport Department Mr D Mapuranga CCH drivers Maxwel Mukuya (left) & Abel Panganai (right) CCH driver I Kamuche 4
CCH, ADVENTISTS IN HEALTH EXPO CCH counselors attending to a client By Richmore Tera -Associate Editor HEALTH by choice not by chance was the theme of the day when Seke Central Adventist Church recently held a health expo which saw members of the church and the community receiving free medical services. A brainchild of the church s health department, in conjunction with Chitungwiza Central Hospital (CCH) the expo was also part of the health institution s social and community responsibility drive to raise awareness on health issues which affect people mainly in the areas of HIV/Aids, diabetes, hypertension, water and sanitation as well as nutrition, among others. There were various stations which dealt with these key areas of health, with HIV counsellors drawn from CCH offering free HIV testing and counselling services to the people who were gathered for the event. The Diabetes Association of Zimbabwe was also in attendance offering people free consultation, screening and other services. The aim of this outreach was to cater for those people who can t afford to pay for consultation fees at Chitungwiza Central Hospital or any other hospitals or health institutions. This is our third year running such a programme for both our church members as well as members of the communities and we are happy that the numbers of the people who are coming to seek the services keep on increasing which is a sign that people are in need of such services, said Elder Gideon Mapokotera, who is also the Senior Coordinating Officer in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Obadiah Moyo at CCH. Trainee Clinical Officer at the same institution, Pikai Mandove, commended the Seventh Day Adventists for coming up with the health expo which he said helped the lessprivileged members of the community. We were invited to assist the underprivileged members of community with free general consultation, especially to those people who can t afford consultation fees. Most of them we ended up referring to the hospital while those with complicated or serious cases of hypertension we encouraged them to adhere to their medication depending on their condition, Mandove explained. A beneficiary, Mr Admire Mlilo (46), commended the move by the church to host the health expo which he said was a step in the right direction. Mlilo urged other churches to take a leaf from the precedence set by the Adventists. It is indeed a commendable and worthy cause when the church goes out of its way to dispense tangible things such as tablets to the sick. I was involved in a road accident and I am in pain but thanks to the gesture by the Seventh Day Adventists, I received pain-killers free of charge. May other churches emulate this good gesture, Mlilo said. Marian Gaba-Gwatidzo who mounted the water and sanitation section said they were out to disseminate information on the importance of water in terms of ablution, sanitation and health facilities. Gwatidzo, who is the Communications Director at the church, said water was important in a person s health, adding that it helped in relieving headaches, flues while at the same time doing away with germs and enhancing the dermatological aspects if the skin. CCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Audrey Tasaranarwo, who is also an Adventist in her own right, commended the health expo, saying more and more of these should be held often. It is a good outreach since it raises awareness among both members of the church as well as the community. Actually, this programme complements our efforts as a hospital to spread health issues among people, she explained. This is not the first time that CCH has been involved in such community outreaches with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. They have been doing it for a long time now. CCH staff who are also Adventists PRO A Tasaranarwo, Lab secretary O Dzingai & Coodinating officer in CEO s officer G Mapokotera (Head Church Elder) 5
CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL 1. STATUS We are a Government Hospital providing a Five Star Healthcare service for the benefit of the socially disadvantaged. 2. FEES Government rates: Consultation - $10 Procedures - Approved Government rates. 3. COMPLAINTS HANDLING Open Door Policy:- - the Chief Executive Officer s Office awaits to assist you NOW. - Bring your complains forward without any fear. - Don't be intimidated by any member of staff. Contact:- Public Relations Officer: Mrs. A Tasaranarwo Mobile: - 0774 120 811 Landlines: - (0270) 31843 / 31138 / 38150 Or Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Obadiah Moyo Mobile: - 0772 419 889 Direct Line: - (0270) 30917 The first hospital to be ISO certified in Zimbabwe on the 28th of March 2008.