Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
NEARLY 90 percent of Bulawayo City Council-run clinics have been found to be inaccessible to people with disabilities, exposing significant gaps in the city’s health service delivery system, a new report has revealed.
According to the Disability Inclusive Scorecard, 89.47 percent of the 19 municipal clinics assessed lack essential accessibility features such as ramps, wide doorways and user-friendly toilets, leaving persons with disabilities struggling to access basic healthcare.
The community scorecard, conducted by disability rights activists with support from Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), gathered experiences from people with various disabilities and uncovered widespread barriers that hinder access to health services.
“There is a lack of adequate sign language, a complete absence of appropriate infrastructure, braille and alternative formats necessary for effective communication with patients who have diverse needs,” the report states.
Only 15.79 percent of clinics were found to be performing well in the area of staff preparedness and provision of assistive devices. A concerning 63.16 percent were categorised as “bad,” with participants reporting that some healthcare workers lacked understanding of their needs, resulting in discomfort, miscommunication and, at times, inadequate care.
The report called for sustained and collaborative action from healthcare providers, policymakers, disability organisations and communities to address these systemic shortcomings.
“Healthcare providers, policymakers, disability organisations and the wider community must work together, as there is an urgent need for sustained and collaborative action,” the report reads.
To ensure equitable access, it recommended extensive renovations prioritising disability-friendly design, noting that even when upgrades are undertaken, they often fail to consider the needs of persons with disabilities.
While some facilities showed pockets of progress, areas such as service delivery and reproductive health remain weak, requiring major improvements to ensure inclusivity for all patients.
The report noted that Luveve and Entumbane clinics have made notable strides towards inclusive healthcare. However, Entumbane’s progress is being hampered by resource constraints, limited outreach and remaining physical barriers.
The report emphasised the need for healthcare workers to handle sexual and reproductive health conversations with sensitivity and respect, stating that people with disabilities deserve dignity, understanding and non-discriminatory care.
It further recommended the provision of sign language interpreters, urgent renovation of toilets and waiting areas, and increased financial and human resources to improve accessibility and staff training.
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) health services director, Dr Edwin Mzingwane Sibanda, acknowledged the challenges highlighted in the report and said the local authority is working to address them.
“Older clinics do not have ramps for wheelchairs by design, but with assistance from partners we have constructed a few. However, for new clinics, ramps will be a standard requirement. We welcome any donations and will include these in future budgets,” he said.
