Chronicle Editor
Mkhululi Ncube, Chronicle Reporter
THE National Social Security Authority (Nssa) is rolling out health clinics across the country dedicated to the elderly, most of whom are struggling to access quality healthcare.
Government’s economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) prioritises social protection for vulnerable members of society who include the aged, orphans and widows.
Nssa, which administers pensions for workers, has been blamed for giving workers measly monthly payouts, making it difficult for thousands of pensioners to survive in the prevailing harsh economic environment.
The setting up of clinics will help boost the morale of the elderly who cannot afford quality healthcare in both public and private health institutions. Most health facilities require payment upfront.
Addressing delegates during an open day in Bulawayo on Friday, Nssa board chairperson Dr Percy Toriro said they recognise the importance of assisting pensioners to access healthcare.
This is part of Nssa comprehensive efforts to improve the welfare of pensioners through augmenting statutorily stipulated monetary benefits with non-monetary benefits.
“As Nssa we realise the challenge that exist in most of the medical facilities in the country and so to alleviate the plight, particularly of the pensioners, we are setting up clinics in all regions were elderly people will not only receive diagnosis. They will also receive free medication for diabetes, BP and other conditions that affect the elderly,” he said.
“As we speak, we have just commissioned a clinic in Harare and we are renovating our clinic in Bulawayo. We have also identified spaces where we intend to set up clinics in Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo, Gwanda and Bindura.”
Dr Toriro said the board has approved the procurement of six mobile clinics for each Nssa region. Nssa has been using the mobile clinic to provide free medical assistance to pensioners in regions across the country.
Since April, the clinic has been to the southern part of Zimbabwe, covering Zvishavane, Gwanda and Bulawayo.
Social protection consists of policies and programmes structured to reduce poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks and enhancing their capacity to protect themselves against interruption or loss of income.
The International Labour Organisation’s Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952, outlines the nine principal branches of social security: medical care, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injury, family, maternity, invalidity and survivors’ benefits.
The open day, which was held at the Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Centre near Mpilo Central Hospital, was meant conscientise organisations, workers representatives and members of the public on the crucial role the Nssa rehabilitation centre plays in terms of supporting people injured while at work.
The Workers’ Compensation Rehabilitation Centre, arguably the biggest such facility in the country was open in 1971 to provide clinical rehabilitation services to workers who are injured or get diseases during the course of their duties.
Dr Toriro said while Nssa rehabilitation centre plays an important role, it has largely remained unknown to members of the public.
Besides the rehabilitation of workers, the centre also provides empowerment skills to workers who cannot return to work so that they can venture into income-generating projects.
“We appeal to other stakeholders to partner us. While we deploy reasonable resources to the rehabilitation centre, we feel we can do even better with collaboration from other stakeholders. Although this is medical facility, but more importantly it is a rehabilitation facility,” said Dr Toriro.
Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima, who was represented by Permanent Secretary for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mr Paul Nyoni, said the country is recording a high number of work-related accidents resulting in injured workers requiring rehabilitation.
“There is a growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases worldwide and over the years more and more people are suffering from lifestyle diseases such as BP, diabetes and heart diseases. This has left many people disabled due to stroke and amputation from complications from diabetes,” he said.
“It is for this reason that Nssa has open its doors to the generality of the public so that those who need comprehensive rehabilitation services can get them at concessionary rates. This is indeed an impactful social responsibility initiative that revives hope in the community.”
Prof Mavima implored Nssa to ensure that the rehabilitation centre in Bulawayo becomes a one-stop shop for post injury and illness rehabilitation.
He said the centre should also continue to explore new ways of improving it so that it remains relevant to the community it serves.
The minister said under NDS1, his ministry is mandated with the provision of social protection and enhancing jobs and income security is one of the key areas of the mandate.
“The provision of rehabilitated services to injured workers is a major programme that is done through Nssa and indeed workers’ compensation and rehabilitation centre. It therefore follows that quality rehabilitation services are a prerequisite for enhancing jobs and income security for the injured workers,” said Prof Mavima.
“My ministry has thus a direct interest in ensuring that facilities such as this one deliver comprehensive healing services that not only benefit injured workers, but society at large.”
The centre, which can accommodate 200 people at a given time, has a physiotherapy department which has the gymnasium, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy that offers a wide range of treatment programmes.
It also has an occupational therapy, work placement, industrial clinic, paraplegic unit and dormitories that support those with spinal cord injuries and the grossly impaired workers. – @themkhust
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