Resource scarcity seriously cripples operations of the institution and affects the enjoyment of basic human rights critical to mental health patients such as the right to food and right to health. 6.5 Right to Food and Access to Water The ZHRC team established that there is an acute shortage of food at Ingutsheni Central Hospital owing to the paltry budgetary allocations the institution gets, which is split between operational and infrastructural costs. From the interviews carried out it was revealed that patients have tea with bread in the morning, sadza and vegetables at lunch and sadza and vegetables or beans (as and when available) at dinner almost on a daily basis unless there is a donation to cater for meat once or twice per month. Doctors and nursing staff pointed out a malnutrition scare as the patients are not having a balanced diet. They advised that between 2007 and 2008, over 100 mental patients died as a result of malnutrition and that if nothing was done to improve the diet, the institution would encounter the same fate. While the ZHRC team was touring the institution some patients volunteered information to the effect that there was a monotonous diet of sadza and vegetables and begged the team to bring them meat. It was noted that there is a good supply of portable water to the institution giving the patients access to clean water and ensuring hygienic surroundings. 6.6 Right to Health Interviewed staff at Ingutsheni voiced concerns over the shortage of resources which adversely affect service delivery. It was reported that there was a shortage of essential anti-psychotic drugs at the institution and this has negative impact on the staff as they may be unable to work safely if acute patients are not sedated. It was reported that there is a shortage of critical drugs such as the Chrorpromazine, Fluphenazine Deconate and Benzhezol results in deterioration of patients’ condition. The ZHRC was advised that some patients who still have cooperative and willing relatives, had these drugs bought from the pharmacies. The right to the highest attainable health Page 13 of 22