Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
The Government has commended ZB Holdings and UNFPA for their unwavering dedication and support towards the Harare City Community Health Equity Fund.
Speaking at the Community Health Equity Fund Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony at the townhouse today, the Chief Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Stephen Banda said their expertise, resources and commitment are invaluable assets that complement the city’s efforts to strengthen community health systems.
“This collaboration embodies the spirit of partnership, innovation and shared responsibility to advance equitable access to quality health services for all residents, particularly the most vulnerable and undeserved populations.
“By pooling our resources and coordinating our efforts, we are creating an enabling environment that empowers community health workers, enhances local health infrastructure and improves the accessibility and affordability of essential health services,” he said.
Dr Banda said challenges faced in public health from persistent communicable diseases to emerging non-communicable conditions demand innovative and inclusive approaches.
“This fund will ensure no resident is left behind, especially women, children, elderly persons and marginalised groups who historically face barriers in accessing healthcare,” he said.
Harare mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said the city handles the birth of close to 2 500 babies a month.
“Our outpatient clinics, like Edith Opperman, attends to over 400 people per day, Mabvuku, over 400 per day and the various clinics dotted around, they see multitudes of people,” he said.
“This initiative, where we have community health funds that are going to be used locally, these monies are going to come to the council.
“They are going to add to and complement the money we are investing as council into these facilities.
“But these will be used at the community level with the pilot districts Mbare, Harare South, Sunningdale and so forth. And the money will be used there and improve the facilities.”
Cllr Mafume said; “We need these facilities to be well lit and presentable so part of what we need to do is use this money to improve the ambience of the clinics so that we meet the target by UNFPA, so that many children are born.
“I am keen that we deal with non-communicable diseases, we must have kidney dialysis kits at our hospitals closer to the people. We must have these things accessible. We need to ensure CHEF quickly goes to the other suburbs.”
