Yeukai Munetsi
Gweru – Youths in Gweru have said lack of resources in hospitals and incapacitation of staff was a result of misplaced priorities by the government.
Speaking during the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) youth engagement in Gweru last week An Ascot based youth, Courage Machada, said hospitals and clinics continue to let people down due to lack of resources.
“I witnessed how hospitals and clinics are incapacitated due to lack of resources. I am coming from Birchenough Clinic and I was delayed because they only had one thermometer that was said it belonged to the infants at the hospital,”
“I had to wait and this shows how lack of resources at our health facilities continue to disappoint patients. However, the situation is being made worse not because the country does not have the funds but because of misplaced priorities by leaders,” said Machada
He went on to say having a chronic illness in Zimbabwe was a death sentence because of the high USD amounts required and the age discrimination.
“In Zimbabwe life has become unbearable for youths with chronic illnesses. Being diagnosed with such a disease means death because the free medication for chronic illnesses is only given to the senior citizens.
“However, because of incapacitation in local hospitals even the senior citizens are buying on their own and the prices are too high and charged in USD currency,” he said.
Director of Young Voices Disability Zimbabwe Nyasha Mahwende said the dilemma of lack of resources at hospitals was affecting people living with disabilities more.
“People Living with Disabilities in Zimbabwe are sometimes denied access to health by family members because it is cumbersome for them to find disability friendly hospitals. If one is deaf, they find it hard to communicate and maintain privacy at the same time. For the visually impaired there is no braille.
“For those who use wheelchairs there are no ramps, the dwarfs can’t access the beds because they are too high and the toilets are not disability friendly,” said Mahwende.
Community Solutions Zimbabwe (CSZ) programs officer Brisky Funnel Ncube said there was need for independent structures and policies to improve the health sector.
“In order to improve the health system in Zimbabwe, there is need for independent structures and policies to boost our own health sector and not to rely on western aid,”
“There should be adequate legislation and policies for doctors to open private hospitals after a specific period of working in government to curb monetizing the health system.
NAYO Programs Officer, Ian Chawanda encouraged youths to play an active role to improve the health system.
“It is up to us as youths to improve the health system by using the available platforms like social media to participate and bring to light injustices and problems being encountered when accessing health. It is every Zimbabwean’s right to access health hence let’s participate,” said Chawanda.
