STAFF WRITER
A MICRO-FINANCE company has come on board to bankroll the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals’ casualty customer awards aimed at encouraging staff to reduce patient waiting time and improve customer care service.
Zimbabwe’s biggest referral hospital with a capacity of 1 200 beds is currently battling to reduce patient waiting time and is encouraging the friendliness of staff.
Authorities say they have made significant progress in this regard with emergency cases now being attended to in less than five minutes.
“This business of customers coming and not being attended to is a thing of the past,” said Parirenyatwa Head of Public Relations Linos Dhire.
“Our staff are friendly and very helpful. If a patient is received with a smile that can make all the difference.”
Parirenyatwa Casualty Section nurses handle an average of 100 patient’s a-day.
The outstanding health care workers at the hospital’s casualty section were on Friday awarded with certificates and food hamper vouchers for their splendid efforts.
“We believe in good customer service, it’s one of our key values. So we are continuously improving our customer service to ensure that patients are being treated on time and are getting the proper care,” said Dhire.
“We want to ensure patients get quality service. So it’s very important that corporates are coming through to support us. We call upon more corporates to come through in supporting what is good for the patient,” he added.
MountFin managing director, Vimbai Chinguwa said the microfinance institution was happy to have come on board for such a worthy cause.
“The realisation during this Covid-19 pandemic is that we truly have some heroes and heroines and we should celebrate them,” said Chinguwa.
“These awards are targeting the casualty section because when you have an effective staff you save more lives,” she added. MountFin offers civil servants salary based loans.
Meanwhile, Parirenyatwa is currently the largest Covid-19 treatment and care centre in the country measured by bed capacity (425 beds).
“We have managed to be competent as a conventional care and Covid-19 care centre. All emergencies are being attended to strictly within five minutes of arrival.”
As of September 24, the hospital had vaccinated over 80,000 patients since the vaccination drive took off early this year.
The hospital currently charges Z$200 as consultation fee and is among the few hospitals in the country that attends to emergencies before patients have made any payments.
With the Z$200, one will be served by at least four specialists. Zim Morning Post understands that Chitungwiza Hospital currently does not attend to emergencies without upfront payment.
Parienyatwa Customer Awards Winners
Miriam Tomu (Cleaner), Nyamuda Tobaiwa (Security), Chemutsanga Tawanda (Porter), Felix Mutize (Nurse Aide), Belinda Ndete (Pharmacy), Ottilia Unworried (doctor, Constatine Mutata (doctor), Samson Mlambo (Accounts Assistant), Matron Emmanuel Mahlangu (Head of Department)
Most responsive surgery firm Dr Didmus Mutero (Ortho), Most responsive physician firm Dr Tendai Moyo,
Runner ups
Andrew Mandizvo (Nurse) Second runner up, Lucy Tapiwa Sagumbo (Nurse) First Runner Up,
