Mujuru calls for investment in health care services

Harare Bureau
VICE President Dr Joice Mujuru has called for investment in primary health care services as part of measures to control the possible outbreak of Ebola which she said was expensive to manage.

Officiating at the graduation of 131 nurses, 95 midwives, 12 Operating Theatre Nurses and 12 Intensive Coronary Care Nurses who graduated from Harare Hospital yesterday, VP Mujuru said the possible outbreak of Ebola and communicable diseases could be minimised by maintaining high levels of hygiene.

“Communities should be educated on primary health care and equip them with knowledge that will assist in the event of disease outbreak such as Ebola and cholera,” she said.

“It becomes expensive for government to buy the required medication. Increase in access to health services and information not only prevents diseases, but reduces morbidity especially of women, newborn babies and vulnerable members of the society.”

About 5,000 people have died from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, while an estimated 4,000 people died during a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe six years ago.

She said the performance of the country’s economy was directly related to the health of the workers, saying the more sick workers, the less production.

“We should pay attention to our health indicators as much as we do to our economic indicators,” she said.

“A healthy populace plays a significant role in the development of the nation and the economy.”