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The government has since independence invested billions of dollars in the health sector in its bid to ensure all people have access to health services. This has seen hospitals and clinics being built in both the rural and urban areas. Most districts now have district hospitals which are the referral hospitals for each district. There are also provincial hospitals which are referral institutions for all districts in each given province. Most health centres are now within walking distance even in rural areas. It is only in new settlements that people are still walking long distances to access health services.
It is for this reason that we want to say thumbs up to the government for taking a bold decision to invest in the health sector. What now remains is to ensure that these health institutions have the required equipment and drugs.
There is also a general shortage of nurses at health institutions in both urban and rural areas despite the fact that nurses training schools are churning out thousands of graduates every year. The government has already made an undertaking to fill all the vacant posts as soon as possible.
The great strides that government has achieved in making health services accessible to people will come to naught if the services are not affordable. Most rural people cannot afford to pay for health services hence the need for government to continue providing free services.
We want at this juncture to commend the government for its quick response to a public outcry following the increase in blood prices from $80 a pint to $135.
The National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) said it was forced to increase the price of blood after subsidies which used to be provided by both the government and donors were stopped. After the increase, members of the public appealed to government to intervene saying most patients could not afford the new prices.
In response, government on Friday announced that it had released $500,000 to NBSZ. The Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa said the money availed by government was meant to capacitate NBSZ so that it can reduce the price of blood and blood products.
NBSZ is owed huge amounts of money by hospitals hence it is now demanding cash upfront thereby putting hospitals in very precarious position.
Patients that require blood transfusion include those with chronic diseases such as advanced cancer, diabetes and accident victims. Denying these people blood is as good as condemning them to death.
It is for this reason that we want to appeal to NBSZ to find a workable arrangement with hospitals so that the institutions are constantly supplied with the blood while on their part, the hospitals should strive to clear their arrears. The money provided by government to cushion the NBSZ is very little given the fact that the organization is already owed huge sums of money by hospitals.
We want to also appeal to donors to assist with resources so that NBSZ is able to carry out its mandate of saving lives by providing blood to hospitals.
The collection and screening of blood is a very expensive exercise and therefore without the assistance from donors and government, it will be impossible for NBSZ to reduce the price of blood and blood products.
We believe in the sanctity of life and therefore no Zimbabwean should be denied his right to life regardless of one’s health condition.
Online Reporter