Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
PRESIDENT Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa says Government and other stakeholders’ efforts are yielding positive results towards ensuring access to affordable, quality and specialist health services as indicated by rising life expectancy and drop in maternal mortality rate.
The Second Republic has registered huge milestones in the health sector by ensuring the availability of medicines and the affordability of services across the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the refurbished Adlam House and Nurses Home at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals this Friday, the President said Government’s efforts in the sector are bearing fruit with life expectancy on the rise while maternal mortality rate has significantly dropped.
“Let us always strive to use our own brick and mortar, steel and wood, and all other products to consolidate and broaden the value chains of our country’s construction industry. Overall, it is pleasing that notable progress is being made across our health delivery sector towards the realisation of Universal Health Coverage as well as access to affordable, quality and specialist health services. The reduction of maternal mortality reflects strengthened maternal and child health services. Life expectancy is also rising, a testament that the interventions deployed by Government alongside other stakeholders are yielding positive results. Additionally, we are strengthening specialized care and emergency response systems,” he said.
Government is ready to avail requisite support for nurse training while incentivising professionals to uphold high standards.
“Student nurse training and medical education are critical pillars of our health system. Nurse Trainees, along with doctors and all other health care personnel being trained throughout institutions of higher learning are the backbone of the health delivery system of tomorrow. My Government stands ready to scale up the requisite support to ensure that they have suitable and well-equipped facilities appropriate for their training,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also challenged student nurses to remain patriotic and serve the interests of the nation at all costs.
“Rise up to the challenge. Never look down upon yourselves, your health sector or our country as a whole. All things are possible. Dare to dream; work with zeal to achieve your set goals and transform your future. Take pride in wholeheartedly providing life-saving health care services to your communities, parents, siblings and relatives. Ngazvikufadzei kurapa nekuraramisa mhuri yeZimbabwe. Always remain mindful that “Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa,libuswe, likhu-le-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo”. Zimbabwe is our only God-given motherland. The onus is on us to build and modernise it into what we desire, through hard work, perseverance, focus, brick upon brick and step by step,” he said.
Under the Presidential Hospital Renovation Programme, works are underway at Mpilo hospital in Bulawayo, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare.
The refurbishment exercise will soon move to other referral and district hospitals across the country.
