BY DANIEL MOLOKELE
The Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe recently held a successful workshop focusing on the Medical Services Amendment Bill in Masvingo.
While the workshop covered various aspects of the bill, one critical topic stood out: the need for a decisive policy regarding access to healthcare services for unaccompanied minors, especially adolescent girls.
This issue is particularly crucial as unaccompanied refugee minors, like those in Zimbabwe, are a vulnerable group with limited access to healthcare services.
They often experience higher levels of psychiatric morbidity and trauma, making it essential to address their mental health needs.
The workshop highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to ensure these minors receive necessary healthcare services.
Some key points discussed during the workshop include:
– Renewing efforts to allocate at least 15% of the 2025 national budget towards public healthcare services, as per the Abuja Declaration of 2001.
– Developing a decisive stance or policy on access to healthcare services for unaccompanied minors, especially adolescent girls.
– Addressing the growing number of teenage pregnancies in Zimbabwe and the need for a national strategic response.
– Preliminary discussions on the proposed national health insurance bill, which will soon be presented to the Cabinet for approval.
– Call for a more coordinated approach among stakeholders to address the challenges affecting healthcare services in Zimbabwe.
The workshop concluded with a call to action, encouraging the public to propose amendments to the original Act.
The Portfolio Committee on Health and Childcare will conduct public hearings across the country to gather national input on the Medical Services Amendment Bill.
This is a significant step towards ensuring that unaccompanied minors, especially adolescent girls, receive the healthcare services they need.