New health report on Zimbabwe paints bleak picture

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 November, 2007

A recent report by the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations, has revealed the tragic extent to which Zimbabwe’s health sector has deteriorated. Representatives from 24 countries met at the group’s annual meeting in Harare October and looked at ways to attain a high standard of health in Zimbabwe and the rest of the world.

Given the worsening political, economic and human rights crisis in the country, it is not surprising that they raised serious concerns about human rights abuses and linked the economy to the destruction of the health infrastructure and declining access to medical care for most Zimbabweans.
The representatives heard presentations and met with community members and health providers in both public and private sectors and non-governmental organizations. Also participating at the event were the Zimbabwe Medical Association, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, who hosted the event.

The report compiled after the meeting concluded that the people in Zimbabwe are suffering from the effects of widespread poverty and deprivation. This has created high rates of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, a very high maternal mortality rate and many infectious diseases. State-sponsored violence also featured in the report. It said there were more than 1200 cases of unlawful arrests and detentions by police, military and security forces between January and August of 2007. 750 assaults and more than 500 instances of torture inflicted by the government were documented.

Food shortages and poor salaries are also depriving people of access to health care. Salaries for civil servants, including teachers, nurses, and doctors in the public sector,have dropped to less than US$20 a month. There were stories about nurses who sleep in the parks because they could not afford to pay for transport to work. Qualified medical staff continue to leave the country in large numbers.

The report said the lack of safe drinking water and constant power cuts contribute to the health crisis. The blood bank in Harare had to destroy its entire supply when power outages affected their refrigeration. The participants heard of one young woman in labour, who died at Harare Hospital after arriving to find there was no power, no water and no doctor. The report confirmed cases of dysentery in all suburbs of Harare. Unsafe water has increased the risk of diarrhoeal diseases. Also of great concern were the long waiting lists reported for anti-retroviral treatment.

Operation Murambatsvina, the government’s so-called clean up exercise which displaced nearly a million people, featured large at the conference. The report said the victims have received no form of justice or compensation. Many still sleep in the open, even during the rainy season which is approaching. Displaced individuals who are living with HIV/AIDS had their treatment disrupted and may develop strains resistant to their usual medication.

The health organisations urged the government of Zimbabwe to stop the use of violence, respect freedom of expression, fulfil the right to health for all members of the community, provide quality training of health professionals and ensure sustainable agricultural production.

They called upon regional and world leaders and their governments to condemn the actions of the government of Zimbabwe that violate the human rights of their citizens, and ensure that claims of sovereignty are not used as an excuse for escaping accountability for imposing suffering on the people.

The full report can be found on our website at www.swradioafrica.com