The Sunday Mail
IT is good to hear that two major public hospitals will soon have a brand-new set of cutting-edge radiotherapy machines installed by the Government to treat cancer.
Naturally, this is expected to enhance cancer treatment programmes provided by public health institutions.
It is encouraging that the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is now being continuously incorporated into primary healthcare. This is a step in the right direction.
It is proof that Zimbabwe’s health sector has not only recovered, but also continues to thrive under the Second Republic, especially after years of underinvestment.
Lately, the country has experienced a substantial increase in the burden of disease due to the rising incidence of NCDs, which has profound socioeconomic ramifications.
Most people could not afford the high cost involved in the treatment of NCDs, especially cancer.
The poor and those residing in rural areas were the most affected. Therefore, the significance of the latest intervention by the Government cannot be overemphasised.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Zimbabwe today. This has necessitated specialised care — including ongoing chemotherapy drug supplies, and access to diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
Following through on its commitment to provide high-quality healthcare, the Second Republic has over the years made significant progress in the health sector, in accordance with both Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1.
President Mnangagwa’s administration has made a conscious effort to reorganise and modernise the public health system. This stems from the realisation that universal health coverage depends on all Zimbabweans having greater access to healthcare services.
The President recently dedicated a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) centre, and gave hospitals and clinics countrywide an array of medical supplies and cars.
The new 1,5 Tesla MRI is a specialised imaging machine that can be used for advanced neuroimaging, as well as spine, brain and cardio-vascular imaging, among many other purposes. Indeed, primary healthcare remains at the coalface of Zimbabwe’s health system, and the Government has been working tirelessly to ensure universal access.
At a Cabinet briefing last week, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, gave an update on the status of several projects that fall under his purview.
The purpose of these projects is clearly to improve primary healthcare facilities in various districts throughout the country.
In Manicaland province, the noteworthy accomplishments include construction of the Runyararo Clinic in Chimanimani and the Mutare National Pharmaceutical Company warehouse, which are currently 98 percent and 85 percent complete, respectively.
Solar-powered boreholes have been successfully installed at 10 health facilities across the province to guarantee provision of safe and clean water.
Considerable progress has been made in building the Bhale Health Post in Hwange, which is currently 70 percent complete, and the Mataga Clinic in Mberengwa district, which is 100 percent complete.
Furthermore, a number of hospitals reported significant progress in installing medical gas reticulation systems.
Currently, hospital projects in Banket, Chivhu and Victoria Falls are 98 percent, 97 percent and 80 percent complete, respectively.
In addition, construction of the Mashala and Mkhombo clinics in Matabeleland North is proceeding satisfactorily, with completion rates of 80 percent and 45 percent, respectively.
Open heart surgery in Zimbabwe also resumed in June at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, improving accessibility and affordability for individuals in need of the procedure.
Encouragingly, three years ahead of schedule, Zimbabwe met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 HIV testing and treatment targets in 2022.
This confirms the success and impact of Zimbabwe’s HIV programmes, as the nation achieved the UNAIDS 95-95-95 viral suppression target and has one of the highest recorded rates of viral suppression in the world.
The country achieved a further significant milestone in 2022, when it was the first in Africa to approve the use of the long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
So, clearly, with more funding, NCDs like cancer can be easily managed.
The list of achievements is long and inexhaustible.
While more still needs to be done, the Second Republic has shown the drive, commitment and willpower to attain its ambitious targets.
