 1 Nurse to 3 Acute patients  1 Nurse to 1 suicidal patient  1 Nurse to 4/5geniatric (old) patients. This is an unhealthy situation considering that the hospital houses chronic patients3, the elderly and those with suicidal tendencies, who are constantly in need of attention. At the time of the visit the population of patients was 541 with 390 being male and 134 being females. It was reported that some of the patients had been at the institution since the 1980s because relatives and society have a tendency to disown mental patients. To its credit, the Hospital runs a three year Diploma training programme in Psychiatric Nursing, and 18 months Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing Programme. Despite this the ZHRC was advised that qualified staff are targeted outside the country where they receive better remuneration. 6.2 Mental Health Board and Mental Health Review Tribunal The Mental Health Act, Section 68 provides for the establishment of the Mental Health Board. The Board has the responsibility to make suggestions and observations on the welfare of the patients and report to the Secretary for Health and Child Care. Mental Health may also discharge patience, when they note improvement. The ZHRC was informed that the Board was in place but had not done any visits in over a year owing to resource constraints. Sections 75 to 82 provide for the Mental Health Tribunal with the function of hearing applications and appeals made to it on behalf of patients detained in institutions, to direct the release of patients and to take all necessary steps to ensure that patients are accorded the rights which they are entitled to in terms of the Act. This is an important function which is not being realized as the Tribunal has not been meeting. The Tribunal meets for purposes of reviewing the decisions of the Board. 3 The type of patients housed at Ingutsheni are as follows: - Suicidal patients - Geriatric (old) patients - Acute and sub-acute patients - Chronic patients Page 11 of 22