Letwin Mubonesi
The President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared that a total of 6 600 health posts will be constructed over the next five years in government’s political declaration to commit to universal health coverage.
President Mnangagwa’s declaration came as part of 158 similar commitments from different countries at the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on universal health coverage (UHC).
The construction of these health facilities came as part of the commitments made by world leadersincluding President Mnangagwa towards a high-level United Nations Political Declaration on UHC launched on the ongoing United Nations General Assembly meeting.
“While we have made significant strides in ensuring that no one should travel more than 10km to reach a health service, some communities still have limited access to health facilities. My government is, therefore, constructing health posts, clinics and hospitals in remote areas to address this challenge. A total of6 600 health posts will be constructed over the next five years,” said Mnangagwa in his declaration.
However, he lamented over the issues of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe that they are slowing the progress as well as the government’s efforts in achieving UHC.
“The current challenge is to modernize primary healthcare. Sadly, however, our efforts are being greatly hampered by the ruinous illegal economic sanctions imposed on our country,” he said.
The Second Report of the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care earlier this month had pointed out that the major concern in the health sector remained the shortages of drugs, public health institutions have been experiencing acuteshortages of medicines and drugs as well as other essential products needed for citizen’s wellness. It has left the general public at the mercy of the private sector, which introduced a three-tier pricing system.
“This is in the form of the United States dollar (US$), equivalent of the US$ in bond (ZWL dollar) and demand of a mark-up percentage on products purchased through (mobile money transfer platform) Eco Cash and swipe. These demands are beyond the reach of an average citizen in Zimbabwe, let alone the poor and vulnerable population in the country,” said the President.
As such, in his declaration, Mnangagwa announced that government launched a Health Financing Policy in 2018 aimed at meeting some of the challenges in the sector.
“The policy is aimed at reinvigorating our health delivery system through robust and sustainable domestic health funding. In addition to the Aids levy, my country has introduced a Health Levy, which is a 10% tax on mobile data usage, 5% of which is ring-fenced for health,”
“Zimbabwe has also embarked on setting up a National Health Insurance policy, which will help improve health access to many more people, especially those in the informal sector. Our programmes, prioritizing maternal, neonatal and child health, have seen remarkable increases in access to basic quality health care services,” he said.
Add comment