BY STAFF REPORTER

Zimbabwe’s government is crafting a National Health Insurance scheme to cover the majority of its citizens who lack health insurance.

Currently, a staggering 90% of Zimbabweans are without health insurance, with medical societies only covering 10% of the population.

The country’s economic woes, including corruption, bad governance, high interest rates, and exorbitant health fees, have eroded trust in health insurance among ordinary citizens.

At the 15th annual Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe conference in Victoria Falls, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora expressed concern over the extortionist behavior of medical aids and health service providers.

He assured that the National Health Insurance scheme, whose principles have been sent to Cabinet, will address these anomalies and push out some small health funders.

Mombeshora emphasized the need for alignment towards measurable results, acknowledging the dynamic nature of healthcare.

“Financing of healthcare systems has become a global challenge, especially for low-income countries like ours,”he said.

“Zimbabwe is working hard to institute reforms that are designed to increase domestic funding for health.

“One key reform that has been on the agenda for long but being accelerated now is the establishment of a National Health Insurance Scheme.”

The Minister also highlighted ongoing legislative reforms, including the Medicines and Allied Substance Act, Health Professions Act, and the Medical Aid Societies Bill.

These reforms aim to strengthen regulation of health professions, create an enabling environment for health investment, and better respond to challenges and trends.

Mombeshora criticized some health funders for extorting money, stressing the need for regulation.

“We need to stop that and come up with policies on how health funders can be regulated. We have about 40 medical aids but how many are here? If they were genuine, they should be here; it’s not supposed to be a money-making business but a social service. We made a mistake of allowing health funders to be service providers,” he said.

The conference, themed “Zooming in on Health Outcomes – Making the Main Thing the Main Thing,” started on Wednesday and will end today.

BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Victoria Falls, a major tourism destination, is at high risk of Mpox outbreak due to its proximity to the border and the heavy presence of cross-border truckers.

Stakeholders met on Wednesday to strategize on preparing for any outbreak, taking no chances after the tourism sector was severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting, convened by the Victoria Falls City Council health department and Ministry of Health and Child Care, aimed to sensitize stakeholders and share information on the disease.

Fungayi Musinami, Hwange District Medical Officer, emphasized that the meeting was just a sensitization exercise to ensure that everyone gets the right information.

“We want to stay ahead and ensure everyone gets the right information,” she said.

Musinami highlighted that the presence of same-sex commercial sex workers and cross-border truck drivers makes the chances of the spread of the virus high.

“Our biggest concern as Victoria Falls is trucks movement through Victoria Falls and Kazungula borders from as far as DR Congo,” she said.

“As a city, that will be the thrust of our response to start from. Another aspect of response is men having sex with men and the truck stop where there is a lot happening.”

Khaliphani Tshuma, Victoria Falls City Council safety and health officer, stressed the importance of citizens getting correct information from credible sources.

“Symptoms can take up to 21 days to manifest, and include swollen lymph nodes, rash, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, sore throat, and fever,” he said.

“Rash and blisters are common on the face, palms, feet, groin, genitals, mouth, throat, anus, rectum eyes, and privates. The virus can spread through physical contact with an infected person or through mouth-mouth or a mother to child at birth.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recently declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), respectively.

The stakeholders agreed that preparedness is key to preventing the spread of Mpox in Victoria Falls.

The meeting was attended by various stakeholders, including government departments, ports authorities, and the private sector.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refused to disclose details of two Kenilworth boys who were bitten by police dogs, amid allegations that they were illegal gold panners.

ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “We are looking into that incident and the allegations and we will be able to give a detailed statement in due course.

Did it happen? We ask again.

“Nokuthaba, we are conducting investigations.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Mbongeni Hleza, from Gwitshi in Nkayi,  a victim of the police dog attack, has shared his traumatic experience.

He says he had just left his home to seek employment at the mines as his parents are struggling to look after them.

“I saw people running away as I was at the shops,”he said.

“I left home to look for employment in mines. They set two dogs on me, and they caught my trousers, and I immediately sat down. Baqhubeka benikela ukuthi zingilume and they kept laughing appearing drunk.

“The other bit me on the stomach, almost ripping off my intestines, while the other caught me on the arm and the other proceeded to the thigh while the other went to the neck.”

Another victim, 17-year-old Sabelo Dube, also shared his experience of being attacked by four police dogs.

He says he was sitting by the shops (Lukona) when he saw people running away as a police vehicle drove in.

“I decided to walk away, but shortly after, police sent dogs after me.”

When asked what the police said, Sabelo replied, “They were there, instructing me to stand still and let the dogs bite me to death. I complied.”

He also said, “They didn’t say what I had done. They were wearing full uniform. They said ‘uyabaleka gweja?’ (are you running away?) and I responded ‘I am not.’” Sabelo added, “I wish they could be arrested.”