Cancer patients at Mpilo Hospital need almost a million rand for new power backup equipment. Their radiation machines break down when the electricity cuts out because these devices hate power changes. Two treatment machines have already failed. Vice-President Kembo Mohadi visited Friday, telling the money people they must fix this problem fast. He wants patients treated locally instead of traveling to South Africa or India.
The hospital chief explained that they require 24 special batteries, totaling over R1 million. Officials suggested making the system smaller, but Mohadi rejected that idea completely. He said their country can easily afford the hundred thousand dollars needed. The cancer machines have a sad history—they sat unused in storage for years before arriving at the hospital. They even remained locked up in Mozambique for three years.
Half the cancer patients coming to Mpilo need radiation treatment but receive nothing with broken equipment. Everyone must travel to Harare instead, where they wait up to five months for help. Mohadi believes one hospital cannot handle all cancer cases nationwide. Patients suffer through expensive journeys seeking treatment elsewhere because local machines stay broken.
The hospital chief explained that they require 24 special batteries, totaling over R1 million. Officials suggested making the system smaller, but Mohadi rejected that idea completely. He said their country can easily afford the hundred thousand dollars needed. The cancer machines have a sad history—they sat unused in storage for years before arriving at the hospital. They even remained locked up in Mozambique for three years.
Half the cancer patients coming to Mpilo need radiation treatment but receive nothing with broken equipment. Everyone must travel to Harare instead, where they wait up to five months for help. Mohadi believes one hospital cannot handle all cancer cases nationwide. Patients suffer through expensive journeys seeking treatment elsewhere because local machines stay broken.
