No end in sight for baboon menace
By Kelvin Kutinyo
Staff members at Gwanda Provincial Hospital continue to live in fear of marauding baboons which continue to wreak havoc at the province’s largest referral centre.
The baboons have essentially transformed Gwanda Provincial Hospital into a chaotic scene, wreaking havoc by smashing windows, leaving water taps running, scattering trash everywhere, damaging rooftops, and destroying the hospital’s gardens.
Baboons are now boldly entering hospital wards, causing disruptions, frightening patients and even stealing their food, complicating the healthcare environment.
Collenbawn Cleveland Block Farm Manager, Ms Nothando Ncube, emphasized the potential risks associated with animal behavior and the dangers that humans may face.
“Monkeys and baboons often enter hospitals because they are attracted to food waste or leftovers, so they can easily get in through open windows, doors and vents. These animals are curious and like exploring new places, which lead them to the hospital and sometimes, their natural habitats overlap with human settlements.”
“Monkeys and baboons pose several risks, they can carry diseases like rabies, herpes, and tuberculosis, which can be transmitted to humans, amd and also becoming aggressive and bite or scratch people. They can also damage hospital property and disrupt patient care,”said Ms Ncube.
Residents living near the area are forced to keep their homes sealed due to mischievous monkeys that rummage through trash cans, scatter litter everywhere, and raid kitchens in search of food.
Gwanda resident Mr Akim Mpofu revealed that the community is fully aware of the issue and has alerted the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zim Parks) to take necessary action.
“The monkeys are a stress, they disturb progress at the hospital and also st Christopher, at first we thought they were coming to scavenge for food because of the drought but clearly it’s not.”
“Last time the authorities contacted parks and wildlife to get rid of the monkeys and they said they are still gathering resources. I think perhaps we should also come up with plans to relocate these monkeys without harming them,” said Mr Mpofu.
Gwanda Provincial Hospital District medical officer Dr Blessed Gwarimbo, expressed displeasure concerning the growing numbers of these animals
“Some time ago the hopsital contacted the Zimparks and Wildlife Management Authority but their efforts were in vain as the Zim parks promised to come an attend to this situation but failed, we have since called again and we will wait for them to act,” said Dr Gwarimbo.
