By Donald Nyarota.
MUTARE. (News of The South)- Health experts have called on government to prioritize quality health service delivery by improving citizens’ access to facilities.
This call was made by a civic organization championing HIV/AIDS related issues which places affordability, availability as well as acceptability of services at the centre of health provision.
Southern Africa AIDS Information and Dissemination Services (SAFAIDS) country training and advocacy program coordinator Adolf Mavheneke made these remarks at a HIV, TB and human rights training workshop where government was criticized for misplaced priorities in fighting the pandemic.
Mavheneke said the largely progressive constitutional provisions should guide government in placing priorities to enhance quality of health services.
“In terms of access to health facilities three things are really key for us. The first being affordability, are the services provided by government affordable by the general populace.
“Acceptability in terms of the services provided government should engage with communities? Government should also ensure that these services are available because it’s one thing to talk about the services when they are not readily available.
“Since 1980 government has made great strides in terms of providing infrastructure but this doesn’t guarantee availability of services because in many cases we have clinics but they don’t have drugs,” he said.
Mavheneke said government was lagging behind the 2030 HIV free generation target set to eradicate the pandemic which has claimed millions of lives to date.
Regional training and capacity strengthening team leader for Aids and Rights Alliance (ARASA) Jacob Segale said the Ebola outbreak demonstrated beyond doubt that African governments were not ready to deal with health problems bedeviling their states.
He called for civil society to work together as well as for governments to work towards regional integration among nation states to address health challenges which are peculiar to states.
“Ebola has shown that our African governments are not ready to deal with diseases outbreaks because of lack of regional integration among states.
“Look at the way Zimbabwe suffered because of the cholera outbreak and look at malaria which is still a pandemic all because of misplaced government policies and failure to work together.
“We need to work together as civil society in ensuring that our governments respect human rights,” he said.
Casper Pound coordinator of Family Aids Support Organisation (FASO) also revealed that the province is facing challenges with relocated people from the Chiadzwa diamond fields where families were moved to relocation sites without health facilities.
Mogale said governments should respect such communities by working with mining companies to ensure that community rights are respected.
Statistics released by the National Aids council show that Manicaland province has the highest number of people living with HIV and AIDS which stands at a ten year average of 15.2% a challenge which needs to addressed.
SAfAIDS claims the best way to address these statistics is by ensuring cross sector response through community based advocacy initiatives. Through its work, it utilizes advocacy, communication and social mobilisation strategies to influence changes in policy and social practices.
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