By Paul Nyathi| As the national crisis in the health sector continues to deteriorate with the doctors strike entering day twenty seven, government has finally deployed the army to take charge of the hospitals.

With the authorisation of the Commander In Chief President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo will today be the first to get army doctors taking over duties at the hospital.

In addition, 35 newly graduated junior doctors will join the institution by April 1.

Doctors downed tools on March 1 after petitioning the Government to resolve its issues which include provision of medication and equipment in public health institutions.

Mpilo clinical director, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, yesterday said a number of doctors from the army would join the institution to help the few overwhelmed medical practitioners until the strike ends.

“We will be having members of the Army joining us from tomorrow just to ease the pressure on the few doctors that have been overwhelmed due to the ongoing strike. We are not yet sure about the numbers but I understand that public health institutions in the country will have members of the army to help,” said Dr Ngwenya.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care has also allocated us 35 recently graduated junior resident medical officers from the National University of Science and Technology and the University of Zimbabwe that will join us from April 1. We are currently working on their applications and we are hopeful this measure will help us deliver quality health care services to members of the public,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya added that although the strike had presented challenges for the hospital, contingency measures had been put in place to continue saving lives while awaiting a solution.