adminHealth Reporter
DONORS have been credited for propelling the health delivery system in Manicaland through the purchase of critical drugs as well as the funding of some services at a time Government funding of the sector in the province continues to decline.
Provincial Medical Director (PMD) for Manicaland Dr Patron Mafaune revealed this week that donors poured $1 534 527 towards various health interventions in Manicaland, adding that ARVs and anti-malarial drugs were readily available as they were donor funded.
Government financing in Manicaland funding was reduced by 38 percent to $442 678 from the targeted $716 625.
Dr Mafaune added that the availability of vital medicines in the province stood at 58 percent, with critical shortages being reported for communicable disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and mental conditions.
“The Health Services Fund collected by districts was $1 856 220 as at November 2015 and 52 percent was used to procure medical and surgical supplies. Vital medical supplies stood at 58 percent against a national target of 100 percent with most critical shortages being reported for non-communicable disease, conditions like hypertension, diabetes mellitus and mental conditions.
The province was well stocked for anti-malarials and ARVs as they were donor funded,” said Dr Mafaune.
Malaria cases in the province have been reduced by 61 percent in 2015 as 85 926 cases and 162 deaths were reported by the end of November 2015. This is in comparison 219 747 cases and 187 deaths recorded during the same period in 2014.
In terms of the case load, Chipinge reported the highest number of cases 28 215, Nyanga 22 224, Makoni 14 846, Mutasa 15 100.
“Unfortunate for malaria deaths, only 18 percent reduction was noted in 2015 when compared to 2015 and this points to the possibility of poor case management by health workers in the provinces,” said Dr Mafaune.
Mutare District recorded the highest malaria deaths at 38, Buhera had 18, Chinamimani had 16, Chipinge had 36, Makoni had 18, Mutasa had 15 and Nyanga had 22 deaths.
The provincial medical director also revealed that apart from poor case management, the health delivery efficiency in the province was being compromised by shortage of critical manpower.
“We have 68 doctors instead of 95, and 1 467 nurses out of 1 549 vacancies,” he said.
Government has frozen all vacant posts, making it impossible for the Provincial Health Executive team to recruit personnel to fill the vacant posts.
Dr Mafaune added that 245 730 people were tested of HIV between January and November 2015.
“This presents 79 percent success, as we had a target of 309 727 by November 2015. 82 121 adults and 6 126 children are on ART, which translates ART coverage to 63 percent for adults and 59 percent for children. 16 870 clients out of a target of 35 721 clients were circumcised,” he said.
On diarrhoea, 78 017 cases and 49 deaths were recorded while 4 248 dog bites and five deaths were reported throughout the province. Maternal deaths in the province were reduced by 50 percent, which surpassed the set target of 15 percent.
“Maternal health remains key for the province with coverage of 70 percent for ANC and 67 percent institutional deliveries,” said Dr Mafaune.
He said that 797 437 children were vaccinated during the measles-rubella campaign while Vitamin A supplementation carried out in the same period reached 248 872 out of 258 896 children.
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