SCORES of Zimbabweans are crossing the Beitbridge Border
Post on a daily basis to seek medical attention in South Africa, as drug and
medical equipment shortages continue to haunt hospitals north of the Limpopo
River.
Others who can afford visit private doctors in the
neighbouring country, citing the availability of drugs and modern equipment for
diagnosis.
A guard at Musina Clinic said on a daily basis, they have
more than 20 patients who are Zimbabwean passport holders.
“For registration of patients and putting them in the right
queue, we ask for identification in form of a pass (identity card) or passport.
We identify Zimbabweans by their passports,” the guard said.
Instead of addresses, the guards collect phone numbers and
on their list were a number of mobile numbers from Zimbabwe’s mobile network
service providers.
A Zimbabwean patient, who identified herself as Alice
Mbedzi, said she decided to cross into South Africa after she realised she
could not get medication from Beitbridge District Hospital.
“Each time I visited Beitbridge Hospital, I paid $12, but
this would only be for diagnosis. I had to pay more money to buy drugs from
pharmacies,” she said.
“In Musina, I pay R130 inclusive of my diagnosis and
treatment drugs which works out to be more reasonable and within reach.
“We take a leaf from our leaders, they shun local hospitals
for treatment outside the country. They lead by example.”
Zimbabwean politicians and senior government officials opt
for foreign hospitals as they shun local institutions, which have been run down
following decades of underfunding by government.
Former President Robert Mugabe used to frequently fly to
Singapore, where he received treatment over and above regular reviews.
Incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, after his poisoning
saga last August, was rushed to South Africa, a country the late MDC-T leader
Morgan Tsvangirai also frequented for treatment until his death in February
this year.
Latest politicians to undergo medical treatment in South
Africa are Vice-President Kembo Mohadi and Zanu PF chairperson and Cabinet
Oppah Muchinguri, who were both injured in a bomb blast at a rally in Bulawayo
in June this year.
Nurses at Musina Clinic are now used to receiving
Zimbabwean patients and now give instructions in all South Africa languages
then wrap-up in Shona, a language widely spoken in Beitbridge.
“Our business is to drive the message to our clients — the
patients — so we say it in every language. We don’t discriminate,” a nurse, who
had just finished giving antenatal instructions to expectant mothers, said.
Another Zimbabwean said each time she visited Musina
clinic, in the last two years, she found staff to be courteous and willing to listen.
“I think back home it’s because there is lack of medication
and other instruments, which affects our nurses who are impatient more often
than not,” the patient said.
The Zimbabwean health delivery system has, for over two
decades, been on a decline, as government fails to allocate at least 15% of the
national budget to health care in line with the Abuja Declaration target.
Thousands of medical personnel have left Zimbabwe for
greener pastures around the globe, making the country a training ground for
health professionals elsewhere.
Hospitals are top-heavy, with several administrative jobs
being duplicated, resulting in salaries eating more into the budget instead of
service delivery. Newsday
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