Category: Press Statements

BY PHYLLIS MBANJE LAST Sunday, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Aids Day, which is always marked with much pomp and fanfare as well as passionate declarations and pledges for enhanced access to treatment. This year was no different and a government convoy made its way to Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo, where presenters made glowing remarks about how the country has done well in combating the spread of HIV and Aids. It was, however, noted that the HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 12,7% and is…

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THE Zimbabwe national budget should cease prioritising military expenditure and channel funds towards the ailing health sector in order to reduce internal conflict from disgruntled healthcare workers. By Michael Gwarisa Giving an analysis of the 2020 Health Budget, Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said the 2020 budget has remained static and largely uninspiring and the humongous allocation of fund to the military was worrisome. While the Ministries of Basic Education and Health got the second and third highest votes after agriculture, their allocations at…

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THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) does not encourage traditional midwives to deliver babies nor offer maternal health related services to pregnant women, a top government official has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the wake of what has been described as “heroic works” of one Mbare traditional midwife, Mrs Esther Gwena who has since delivered more than 100 babies at her home. However, the babies are being delivered in the absence of critical health sundries such as, disinfectants, safe delivery kits, running water and proper…

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ORDINARY citizens whose pockets are not deep enough to afford private medical care continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing stand-off between medical doctors — who have been on industrial action for over two months now — and government. People with various ailments are gambling with death as many have since stopped going to seek medical attention at public hospitals, where they are routinely turned away due to the unavailability of doctors. Hope in the public health system recuperating and going back on its feet has been lost and…

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GOVERNMENT yesterday fired 211 doctors at public hospitals for going o strike to demand better pay, with another 500 at risk. Doctors have been on strike since September 3 demanding salaries that are indexed to the United States dollar to escape triple digit inflation that has ravaged wages. The Health Services Board fired the doctors after holding disciplinary hearings which the striking doctors did not attend and said it planned to hold another round of hearings for at least 516 out of the 1 601 doctors employed in the public…

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BY VANESSA GONYE Public hospital doctors have lashed out at the Health Services Board (HSB) for firing 77 doctors since Tuesday. Addressing Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors’ Association (ZHDA) members and the media at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals yesterday, the association’s vice-president Masimba Ndoro said the move by government was costly, especially on citizens who have no healthcare givers. “This is an abnormal situation which requires solutions not to waste taxpayers’ money. It is a move we have anticipated; we knew they would take that route as we started our strike. It…

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HWANGE district’s biggest referral health institution, Victoria Falls Hospital, is running without emergency facilities and basic medication, a development which is compromising service delivery in the event of a disaster in the country’s prime tourist resort. Doctors at the institution said there was no functional intensive care unit (ICU) and related supplies such as oxygen synthesisers. A government medical officer, Michael Jeans, recently told United States ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols that in cases of emergency, it takes about six hours for patients to be evacuated to the nearest health…

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