By Tatiana Mhararira
Masvingo residents have urged Masvingo City Council to fill the funding gap left by USAID’s withdrawal of support particularly for critical health services such as ARV treatment to ensure uninterrupted care for those relying on these life serving medications.
The residents made the plea to council during a feedback meeting organised by TellZim News on February 26 at Building Brigade Hall ward 5 in Masvingo.
One resident Sharon Munangaigwa pleaded with council to assist patients on Antiretroviral Treatment saying failure would be catastrophic.
“Looking at the issue that USAID is about to stop supplying Anti-retroviral drugs. Is the council going to assist the patients in order for them to get these drugs?” said Munangaigwa.
In his response Ward 5 councilor and Masvingo City Deputy Mayor Daniel Mberikunashe said people will have to be vigilant to save their lives and also try traditional methods saying they had been helpful.
“Before we got assistance from other countries, these diseases were there and we tried by all means to help ourselves using the traditional ways. We can’t force those who had been supporting us to continue and when they helped they did not reach out to individuals.
“It’s the country’s duty to look for assistance and when one helper ceases to assist the country theyS resort to others who will volunteer to assist. Since it is a country with leaders and a ministry that is responsible for that with a minister, permanent secretary and doctors will look into that matter they can’t let people die,” said Mberikunashe.
The fear has gripped many Zimbabweans especially those on ART and other chronic illnesses following the announcement of funding suspension by USAID.
