By Pretty Chavango.
Zimbabwe, Harare. (News Of The South) – With less than a hundred days left till the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) 2015 deadline, Zimbabwe is less likely to achieve success in the maternal health sector and poverty eradication, and rapid progress is required if health related MDG s are to be realized.
Climate change has been cited as having impact on people’s health causing new diseases to deal with, there is need to ascertain to what extent it affects people’s health and evaluate the effects of environmental changes in people’s health.
These deliberations and more arose at a national conference hosted by Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) at their 21st national conference held recently in the capital, running under the banner “ Accessible Affordable, and Achievable health for all.
The conference sought to unpack progress, challenges and solutions towards the health sector , delivering the key-note address on behalf of Minister of Health and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa was Dr Gibson Mhlanga he spoke on the significant progress made by the country in meeting some of the MDG’s like goal 2 on universal primary education , achieving gender equality in schools among others.
Health has been recognized as central to human development as both a contributor and an outcome and should be accessed by all.
Dr Mhlanga urged for planning on the transition of health systems to universal coverage at the same time safe guarding the quality of services to meet the needs of the population, he also called on member states to adopt a multi sectoral approach with a view to reducing health inequities and enabling sustainable development,” the government has a fully loaded agenda will be realized through a multi- sectoral approach and the concerted efforts of all stakeholders “, he said.
CWGH Director Mr Itai Rusike highlighted the need for recognition of health workers who put their lives at risk to care for others, in light of the Ebola pandemic he stated that about 4000 people had died with over 200 health workers also losing their lives.
Mr Rusike bemoaned the fact that information was concentrated on national level and urged for community participation which he said goes a long way in addressing the challenges of Ebola.
Rusike also called on Zimbabwean doctors in the Diaspora to come to the rescue of their kith an kin.
African governments were urged to commit in lessening the rate of the outbreak, “African governments need to commit their own resources to fight Ebola”.
Poor infrastructure and lack of funding emerged as an accelerating factor in the slow progress being made to curb Ebola.
Speaking at the same event, member of parliament Honorable Ruth Labode called on the much hyped “mega Pentecostal” churches to mobilize funds and run clinics in different provinces for the benefit of the people.
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