Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
THE media has been challenged to play its part in ensuring improved access to healthcare for all through wide coverage of health issues in communities including in rural areas.
Journalists in Masvingo this Tuesday engaged stakeholders in the health sector on issues around community health and wellbeing.
“As the media your role in this matrix of enhancing responsive, accountable and transparent governance practices in the health sector is to make sure that you amplify the voice of the common person. Gone are the days when we are supposed to focus on elite discourses because health challenges affect the common person and the elite hence we need to ensure all their voices are heard,” Zimbabwe Media Commission, Commissioner, Jasper Maphosa said.
“Today’s platform was very important to allow dialogue between government representatives in the health sector and the media so that the media understands the centrality of the job and mandate they have to help in ensuring communities have access to quality healthcare. It was also an opportunity to hear what the government is doing in communities to improve access to healthcare and see possible areas of collaboration towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” a representative of the event organisers, Mr Golden Maunganidze said.
The government took time to present on the strides it has taken to improve health delivery in Masvingo including the construction of clinics, waiting mother’s shelters and community engagement initiatives on public health.
“In line with the devolution agenda, the government and our local authorities have made substantial progress in infrastructure development, including improvements in healthcare, education, and clean water access using devolution funds.
“Notably, clinics and schools have been constructed in Mwenezi District, reducing the distance residents previously travelled over 25 kilometers-to access essential health and education services,” the Director in the Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mr Clever Chingwara said.
Corporates were also challenged to prioritise the physical and mental well-being of their employees for improved production.
“As a company, we prioritise the health and safety of our employees because we believe that human capital is your key resource in any organisation hence we have made one of our key priorities to make sure that our employees are in the best possible state in terms of health which is not just the physical person but the mental being of that particular person,” Corporate Medical Officer for Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe, Dr Tongai Mukwewa said.
The government is on record calling upon the media to play their part in ensuring development in communities through wide, fair and balanced reporting.
