Government is set to construct over 6 000 health centres in
the next five years as it seeks to ensure that everyone accesses services
without travelling for long distances, the President has said.
He said while the Government remains committed to ensuring
health services for all its citizens, illegal sanctions imposed by the United
States (US) and European Union (EU)remain stumbling blocks to the fulfilment of
the objective.
President Mnangagwa said this here while addressing a
high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage during the 74th Ordinary
Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that started yesterday.
“While we have made significant strides in ensuring that no
one should travel more than 10km to reach a health service, some communities
still have limited access to health facilities,” said President Mnangagwa.
“My Government is therefore constructing health posts, clinics
and hospitals in remote areas to address this challenge. A total of 6 600
health posts will be constructed over the next five years.
“The current challenge is to modernise primary healthcare.
Sadly, however, our efforts are being greatly hampered by the ruinous illegal
sanctions imposed on our country.”
The President said Zimbabwe continues to addresses gaps
that exist in the health delivery system, for universal health coverage.
“Our national development agenda, the National Health
Strategy 2016-2020 under the theme, ‘Equity and Quality: Leave no one behind’,
attests to this commitment”, he said.
President Mnangagwa said Government launched the Health
Financing Policy in 2018, with the aim of reinvigorating Zimbabwe’s health
delivery system through robust and sustainable domestic health funding.
He said in addition to the Aids Levy, Government has
introduced a Health Levy.
Zimbabwe has also embarked on setting up a National Health
Insurance which will help improve access to many more people, especially those
in the informal sector.
Said President Mnangagwa: “Our programs prioritising
maternal, neonatal and child health have seen remarkable increase in access to
basic quality care services.”
He said his Government was aware of the need to collaborate
with development partners, for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) targets.
“There are, therefore, opportunities for the establishment
of independent private hospitals and medicine manufacturing plants.
“Zimbabwe indeed is open for business in the health
sector,” said President Mnangagwa.
He implored stakeholders to facilitate greater investments
in research and development and technological transfer in order to enhance
accessibility to and affordability of medicines for universal coverage.
The meeting was attended by Health and Child Care Minister
Dr Obadiah Moyo and senior Government officials. Herald
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