According to Acting Director of Health Services, Dr. Yonasi Chise, the auto crave which is used to sterilize theatre equipment stopped functioning over six months ago and the electric pots have been non-functional for over three years, prompting them to be cooking on firewood which is environmental unfriendly.

This came out when the Health Service Committee of Salima District Council visited the district referral facility on Wednesday to appreciate some of the challenges they are facing.

“The auto crave is the machine we use to boil theatre equipment after a procedure before using them on another patient. It is an important machine but here it stopped working some six months ago prompting us to using a small machine which is not even reliable,” said Chise.

“We use at least 10 tons of firewood every month; costing us a lot of money in the process and contribution to environmental degradation,” Chise added.

Chairperson of the Health Service Committee, Councilor Ephraim Mathepa, has described the situation as pathetic.

“It is very sad to note that our district referral facility does not have a reliable auto crave to sterilize theater equipment. This is risky to patients. As a Council, we will sit down and explore other avenues but still more we need well-wishers to bail us out,” Manthepa said.

Also among other issues patients are given only two meals breakfast and supper.