President Mnangagwa yesterday fulfilled his commitment to
improve the state of affairs in public health institutions, three months after
meeting senior doctors who presented to him how the public health delivery
system had deteriorated.
In fulfilling the request, he handed over a consignment of
medical equipment which included infant incubators and resuscitators for the
neonatal intensive care unit, multi-parameter monitors for adults and
paediatrics, operating theatre tables (electric and hydraulic), portable
electroncephalography machine, respiratory aid ventilator, and video endoscopy,
gastroscopy and colonoscopy sets.
He also handed over intensive care unit ventilators for
adults and paediatrics, mobile X-ray machines and anaesthetic machines.
Officially handing over the equipment, President Mnangagwa
said a majority of the equipment on the doctor’s wish list was bought.
“The doctors came to State House and explained their
working conditions. The conditions of service, the equipment, the tools of
their trade. I really felt sympathetic,” said President Mnangagwa.
“So, I promised them that despite the lack of resources, I
will do my best to source the equipment you want. You submit your list and
indeed they did so. This is less than three months ago.”
President Mnangagwa said following submission of the list,
he got resources to purchase what the doctors longed for.
“I am glad to say in excess of 85 percent of what they
requested has so far been purchased and the first phase of the equipment is the
one displayed here. More than what we have is still coming,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the doctors should be thanked for their courageous
gesture, which has resulted in all central hospitals benefiting from this
essential equipment.
He urged the doctors and nurses who will be using the new
equipment to guard against thefts and abuse.
President Mnangagwa further said the health sector must be
prioritised as it was important to promote the nation’s health.
He said as such, children and the elderly must be offered
free healthcare while patients with conditions such as cancer or in need of
dialysis must not pay.
“We must give priority to the health sector because it is
critically important that our people are healthy and when you are not well, we
should have a health system that should assist our people.
“What we have not achieved, which I think is necessary is
as we go forward, we should make more and more liberal policies towards
allowing access to health.
“We should be able to persuade the Ministry of Finance
politically to loosen up so that we give more and more attention to this sector,”
said President Mnangagwa.
He said there was also need to strengthen primary
healthcare such that people do not need to travel to central hospitals seeking
treatment.
He said people in rural areas should be able to be treated
from where they stay.
Speaking at the same occasion, Health and Child Care
Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said for the past 20 years, the country’s public
health sector had been deteriorating.
He, however, said because of the President’s re-engagement
and engagement agenda, the situation was improving tremendously.
“I am happy your Excellency to inform you that there has
been a remarkable improvement in the availability of medicines which has
brought much relief amongst both our medical practitioners and our patients.
“We are happy Your Excellency that the road to recovery is
improving by each day through your personal involvement,” said Minister Moyo.
He said regarding the new equipment, President Mnangagwa
availed a fund, which was used for purchasing the equipment through an accelerated
procurement system from India.
“I must emphasise that, had we used our local agents to
procure this equipment, we would have been able to buy for only one hospital
instead. However, because we purchased direct from source through an accelerated
process, we were able to purchase equipment for all five central hospitals,”
said Dr Moyo.
Speaking on behalf of the senior doctors, Dr Faith Muchemwa
applauded the intervention and swift response by President Mnangagwa to their
plea.
She said just three months ago when they realised that the
state of affairs was deteriorating in public health institutions, they sought
audience with Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo and later First
Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is Health Ambassador.
She said Amai Mnangagwa then facilitated a meeting with
President Mnangagwa, from which they presented their grievances. Dr Muchemwa
said after hearing their plight, the President immediately assigned deputy
Minister of Health and Child Care Dr John Mangwiro to India to purchase the
said equipment.
“Dr Mangwiro was communicating everyday regarding the exact
equipment that we had requested.
“Although the equipment is coming in phases, we have
already seen much of what we asked for. We thank you your Excellency for your
intervention,” said Dr Muchemwa.
Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, Minister of State for National
Security in the President’s Office Owen Ncube; Minister of Information,
Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa and Minister of State for
Harare Provincial Affairs Oliver Chidau and other Government officials
witnessed the handover ceremony. Herald
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