Story by ZBC Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has joined hands with the World Bank in rolling out a Results-Based Financing Scheme to improve access to healthcare services in rural communities across the country.
The Covid-19 pandemic era left many countries in turmoil, but Zimbabwe registered fewer Covid-19 fatalities compared to other countries due to government efforts in conjunction with development partners.
One of these robust efforts has been the implementation of the Results Based Financing (RBF) Scheme to improve the health sector countrywide.
The RBF scheme being implemented by the Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID) has seen medical facilities such as Mtawatawa, Murehwa and Concession District Hospitals being capacitated and transformed, much to the joy of communities around them which are enjoying improved health care services.
“People are getting vaccinated at this clinic free of charge and this is saving us time as this clinic is close to our homes,” said a rural resident.
“Through RBF, we have managed to spread health-related messages and engage the communities on health matters,” said a village health worker.
Health facilities have immensely benefitted from the scheme through renovations and construction of critical plants and the provision of equipment and medical supplies.
District Medical Officers say the RBF Scheme has transformed the health delivery system.
“Through the RBF Scheme we have managed to renovate the hospital kitchen, construct an incineration plant for waste disposal and management and revamped our pharmacy with medicines,” said Mtawatawa District Medical Officer, Dr. Clemence Mukombeni.
“Here at Murehwa District Hospital, we have constructed 3 gas storage facilities and they are connected to the wards. This immensely made it easy when treating patients indeed of medical gas,” said Dr Kudzanai Tasiyana, the District Medical Officer for Murehwa.
Mazowe District Medical Officer, Dr. Kudzai Chisenwa said, “The RBF scheme has enabled us to construct a Covid- 19 Isolation Centre at this hospital and a clinic in the Dandamera suburb. This isolation centre is the first one in the district and the clinic has reduced pressure from patients seeking primary healthcare at the hospital.”
“Through RBF, we have managed to buy 16 motorbikes which are used by the village health workers in conducting their mobilisations. We have also bought medical equipment such as beds, wheelchairs, kitchen utensils and renovations of some of the hospital wards,” said Guruve District Medical Officer, Dr. Chidochashe Mapfumo.
The Results Based Financing Scheme feeds into the Second Republic’s accelerated drive to ensure universal health coverage by bringing healthcare services closer to the people.