…accuse Govt of ignoring crisis in public
hospitals
hospitals
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO – Some 23 protesters embarrassed the Minister of Health and
Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo as he addressed people who gathered for the
national commemorations of the World Aids Day at Mucheke Stadium recently.
Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo as he addressed people who gathered for the
national commemorations of the World Aids Day at Mucheke Stadium recently.
Some of the protesters, who were from HIV and Aids lobby group; The Aids
Arts Foundation (TAAF), lay down in front of the high table as Moyo conducted
his address.
Arts Foundation (TAAF), lay down in front of the high table as Moyo conducted
his address.
They raised a banner written, ‘Communities Need Doctors and Drugs’ and
they managed to grab the attention of the media dignitaries there present.
they managed to grab the attention of the media dignitaries there present.
Health ministry spokesperson Donald Mujiri tried to
persuade the protesters to disperse so that they could negotiate later but the
protesters refused.
persuade the protesters to disperse so that they could negotiate later but the
protesters refused.
The protesters said they were there to raise awareness against
government’s failure to address the shortage of drugs, equipment and other
things needed for hospitals to operate optimally.
government’s failure to address the shortage of drugs, equipment and other
things needed for hospitals to operate optimally.
They said they were displeased that government was not taking seriously
the grievances of health personnel in public hospitals; a crisis which has seen
doctors going on strike for several weeks.
the grievances of health personnel in public hospitals; a crisis which has seen
doctors going on strike for several weeks.
“The theme for this year’s World Aids Day Commemorations is,
‘Communities Make the Difference’, but how can they make the difference if they
are incapacitated? There are no drugs in hospitals and people living with HIV,
we can’t get anti-retroviral medication.
‘Communities Make the Difference’, but how can they make the difference if they
are incapacitated? There are no drugs in hospitals and people living with HIV,
we can’t get anti-retroviral medication.
“The doctors are on strike and the nurses are demoralised. People are
dying of opportunistic infections and there is no second line treatment. It’s
difficult if not impossible to make the difference needed under those
circumstances,” said TAAF national coordinator Emmauel Gasa.
dying of opportunistic infections and there is no second line treatment. It’s
difficult if not impossible to make the difference needed under those
circumstances,” said TAAF national coordinator Emmauel Gasa.
After his address, Moyo refused to take questions and hos security team
barred journalists from getting close to him.
barred journalists from getting close to him.
