President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Thursday said the Covid-19
pandemic has exposed the need for government officials to stop seeking medical
treatment outside the country.
Addressing a meeting of health professionals at State
House, President Mnangagwa said the pandemic has made him realise that the same
medical expertise being sought outside the country was available locally.
“However this pandemic to me has exposed government to
realise that we sometimes spend time, effort and focus going outside the
country when the skills and knowledge are inside the country.
“I think from now on as a result of this pandemic, we
should as government change our strategy in modernising and industrialising our
country by supporting institutions in the country and have less of borrowing
technology from outside,” he said.
The President added: “There is a lot that can be done by
our people if they are assisted, if they are given the necessary support to
develop various needs we have as a country to push us forward.”
He said the pandemic had also tested the capacity of local
institutions such as universities which are currently producing sufficient hand
sanitizers and face masks.
“I am happy that whereas we were focusing outside to look
for these things like sanitizers, gloves, gowns, caps- these things are now being
manufactured here, our universities will be able to produce these items at
almost a tenth of the prices outside the country,” he said.
“I have no doubt that inside a week from now, we shall have
sufficient gowns, masks, sanitizers produced in the country,” he added.
The President said the Covid-19 pandemic had also taught
government to appreciate health professionals more.
“Our frontline fighters, doctors, nurses and some other
stakeholders in that field their needs are now being attended to seriously than
before.
“At the end of the day we shall emerge stronger as a
country, we shall emerge with a better equipped, better informed population as
well as better equipped medical sector,” he said.
The President also hinted at the possibility of extending
the 21- day nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
“We are at different levels of lockdown in the region. I
cannot tell you whether at the end of 21 days we shall lift the lockdown. I
only appeal that all of us observe the measures and comply.That way we save
lives,” he said.
Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Enock Dongo said it
was important to test all health professionals for Covid-19.
Zimbabwe Medical Association representative Dr Christopher
Samkange said there was need to test more people for Covid-19 and reduce the
waiting period for the results if the country intends to win the fight against
the pandemic.
New Ziana
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