Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, Health and Gender Editor
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has acquired Covid-19 test kits, as a means to enhance its testing capabilities as the virus has resurfaced in some parts of the world.
Zimbabwe has, however, not reported new cases of the virus that is being found in various areas.
Speaking to Parliament, the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said the country is preparing itself for and possibilities taking a leaf from the previous outbreak.
“We are aware that Covid comes with different variants but at the moment, the variants that are being found in other countries have not yet been found in Zimbabwe,” said Dr Mombeshora.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 7 million lives were lost since the Covid-19 era, leaving many countries re-looking their health systems as many were caught unaware in terms of testing and screening for the virus when it started to spread.
Zimbabwe started testing all visitors into the country at all ports of entry during the peak of Covid-19, making the need for test kits very critical then.
The country, however, is now preparing itself for any future outbreaks, by securing test kits as reports are surfacing of a new variation being recorded in some countries.
“However, the Government is actively working to prevent the spread of the virus and has acquired additional test kits to enhance detection capabilities, building on previous experiences with testing for variants like Omicron. We anticipate receiving some new medicines that are going to be used to cure this virus,” said Dr Mombeshora.
The Ministry also spoke about the sprouting of unregistered herbal clinics in the country, warning the public from using medicines from the dealers as they are a health hazard.
“Yes, it is very true and there was a situation, which is happening in our country with these herbal clinics. Most of them are not registered, we formulated a policy, which was under the Traditional Medicines Act so that these people are registered,” they said.
Reports are that there is a disturbing increase in herbal clinics offering full body scans, then prescribing some herbal medicines, which are usually always in stock in their various clinics.
“These clinics, unfortunately, have become our go-to areas for the most vulnerable members of our community, especially those suffering from chronic ailments such as cancer, blood pressure and diabetes, just to mention a few.
What is the Ministry doing to protect the public against such unregistered herbal clinics as they have been operating for decades now without any repercussions,” questioned Hon Descent Bajila from Emakhandeni-Luveve Constituency in Bulawayo.
The Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini, responded saying that all people, who sell alternative medicines must be registered.
“We have got a department, which deals with the Traditional Medicines Act, which we are recommending and encouraging all these people, who want to practice these traditional medicines to be registered under the Ministry of Health and Child Care in that policy so that they render the encouraged and recommended treatment.
“However, it is unfortunate that most of our people are going there and they do not have information that most of these clinics are not registered,” added Deputy Minister Kwidini.
He said the Ministry is encouraging members of the public to make sure that wherever they are visiting the herbal clinics to get these treatments, they should verify that these clinics are registered.
“We are also encouraging Members of Parliament to do our oversight role to make sure all these flourishing clinics have attained what is recommended for them to operate,” he added. — @NyembeziMu
