Correspondent

The country’s health services continue to collapse as senior medical professionals at the country’s biggest health centre, Parirenyatwa Hospital,have downed tools immediate effect after a number of their colleagues in the profession tested positive for coronavirus.

The professionals include obstetrics and gynaecologists.

The decision to down tools by the specialist doctors also comes weeks after eight babies who needed urgent assistance died because of lack of poor staffing as nurses are on strike to press for better remuneration and personal protective equipment (PPE).

In a letter to the hospital management, the specialist doctors said the decision to stop offering their services was also in the best interest of patients.

“A considerable number of the SRMOS have tested positive for SARS-Covid-19 and a sizeable number SRMOS are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and await to be tested,” said the notice.

“In the best interest of other health workers and patients, we have found it best that we self-isolate at home whilst Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Hospital is disinfected.

“Those who tested positive will be in quarantine as per national guidelines. Those who are symptomatic will self-isolate until they are cleared.

“Providing service whilst symptomatic and without proper PPE puts patients and other health workers at risk of contracting the highly contagious pathogen.

“We kindly implore your office that you organise that all patients that will be admitted in hospital be tested for Covid-19.

“Those who test positive will have to be managed in the Red Zone.”