19 Jun 2018

The suspension of two chief executive officers at Bamalete Lutheran Hospital and Bamalete Lutheran School of Nursing has been extended by three months. 

A report to the South East District Council from the hospital board said the suspensions, which were initially to end this month, were further prolonged to pave way for more investigations. 

The duo was suspended in March to pave way for investigations following complaints of maladministration and suspicion of corruption at the two institutions. 

The board had initially anticipated that investigations would be completed within three months, but that has not been the case. 

 The hospital and the school of nursing investigations followed concerns by the two institutions employees in December regarding the running of the institutions. 

 The complaint letter was also copied to the Ministry of Health and Wellness as well as the Office of the President. 

Among issues raised by the staff include discontentment over their welfare and career progression, unhappiness over the handling of finances, failure to follow policies in awarding tenders and projects at the institutions. 

 The staff was also querying who should report to who in the management, and wanted clarity on whether Bamalete Lutheran Hospital and Bamalete Lutheran School of Nursing were non-governmental organisations or were government funded organisations. 

 The complaints gave rise to a number of investigations by the health ministry anti-corruption unit and the board of directors resolved to conduct internal investigations to establish issues raised by the anti-corruption unit and staff. 

Despite their allegations of corruption and maladministration, Bamalete Lutheran Hospital has a reputation of being a good customer service provider. 

 Last year, Bamalete Lutheran Hospital and Bamalete Lutheran School of Nursing were selected as the best performing facilities in the health care sector by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. 

 Furthermore, the hospital’s maternity ward is the third most frequented hospital in the country after Princess Marina Referral Hospital and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital. 

 Despite the good reputation, the hospital is facing a challenge of dilapidated facilities and equipment due to over utilisation and lack of funds to expand and buy modern equipment. 

The hospital is currently on a P30 million fundraising drive to raise funds to expand its 36 beds maternity ward. 

The Bamalete Lutheran School of Nursing is on a mission to build a multi-dimensional campus. Ends