by Stan Dongo, Zimbabwe, November 1999
THEME = HEALTH
"Health for all by the year 2000"
- a dream popularised by the ruling Zimbabwe African National
Union (Patriotic Front) - ZANU (PF) - for the past 19
years, is now rightly being treated as a hoax,
as all
Zimbabweans begin to take stock of the "milk and honey"
promised by their rulers
Because of declining health standards, with HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis creating havoc among the work force, the country is experiencing a definite economic decline. The Commercial Farmers' Union says maize output has declined by 61%, vegetables by 49% and cotton by 47%.
As they search for solutions, Zimbabweans are questioning their government's wisdom in spending more than US $2 million a month on their participation in the Congo RDC war. Health care provision for the citizens at home definitely takes a back seat. This issue is being raised at almost every meeting of the Constitutional Commission.
A typical complaint goes something like this: "People are dying in their homes because they cannot afford the exorbitant hospital fees. It's time the government does something about this problem".
Yes. The government has initiated a Primary Health Care Programme and an AIDS Awareness Campaign, but Zimbabweans have yet to see anything of the "Free Health Care for the Poor" promised to the people. Hospital officials are instructed to be uncompromising when demanding payment for treatment. Social Welfare officials now employ embarrassing tactics when interviewing people applying for assistance - obviously to discourage them from asking!
The situation is especially critical in the rural areas where 80% of the population live. People have to walk long distances for treatment - when it is available in the country's dilapidated and neglected hospitals and clinics. Also, hospitals lack adequate transport facilities to carry patients to more specialised medical centres.
The truth is, there is a grievous shortage of doctors and nurses. Many are leaving Zimbabwe for other countries where there are better conditions of service, especially to the United Kingdom where salaries are much higher than in Zimbabwe. Dr. Timothy Stamp, Minister of Health and Child Welfare has publicly admitted that the government needs to increase the health budget, but his is a "voice crying in the wilderness" as far as money needs are concerned. High import duties prevent some doctors in the private sector of medicine from donating drugs.
However, the health problem is proving a blessing in disguise for the Zimbabwe Traditional Healers Association. Its president, Professor Gordon Chavunduka and his team, have been overseas, contacting people who want to conduct tests on Zimbabwean traditional medicine. Professor Chavunduka further states that in Zimbabwe, many patients first try traditional medicines before they go to hospitals. If they get well on traditional medicine, that's the end of the story. Those who go to hospital have to keep returning there for further treatment.
A few clinics dispensing traditional medicine have already been set up in Zimbabwe, but the majority of healers operate from their houses. The struggle for recognition by the outside world has not yet been completed but agreements with the National Cancer Institute of America and the University of Zimbabwe have been undertaken for research purposes.
But making better use of traditional medicine may be an answer to Zimbabwe's health problems.
END