The Sunday Mail
The country has more than 300 radiographers – at least 100 of them in Government service – countrywide, contrary to private media claims that Zimbabwe was left with just one such specialist after another one died last week.
The media outlets said the death of Bulawayo-based Government radiographer Mr Edwin Mahala Ndlovu had left Zimbabwe with only one specialist in the area.
The publications quoted Mr Ndlovu’s son, Thamsanqa, as saying: “He was the only radiographer here in Bulawayo at Mpilo. There are only two radiographers in Zimbabwe. The other one is in Harare.” However, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr Paul Chimedza told this paper that Government had 106 registered radiographers.
“So it’s not true that we have a crisis because we have adequate staff throughout the country and it should also be known that the most experienced and qualified radiographers are employed by Government.”
Chairperson of the Allied Health Practitioners’ Council Mr Josephat Banhwa said Zimbabwe had enough radiographers to cope with demand.
“Our records show that there are 340 registered radiographers in Zimbabwe. And about half of these are in Government service,” he said.
A radiographer, or a medical imaging technologist, is a trained health professional who performs medical imaging by producing high-quality X-ray images used to diagnose and treat injury or disease.
