Marondera - A $430-million fund which will give Zimbabwean children and pregnant women free medical care at public hospitals was launched on Monday with the help of the European Union and Unicef.
“The issue of user fees is one of the biggest barriers to poor women and children's access to life-saving and critical health care in Zimbabwe,” said Peter Salama, the Unicef country representative.
The Zimbabwe health care system, which has collapsed from years of economic crisis, requires $436-million over the next five years to improve capacity, particularly the delivery of maternal care, according to Unicef.
The fund is supported by various donor agencies and EU member countries such as Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Britain.
The money will supply medicine and basic equipment to clinics and hospitals around the country.
Health Minister Henry Madzorera welcomed the funding, saying it will bring major relief and revitalise the ailing health sector.
“We are privileged to have a good physical and human resources infrastructure in this country and we are confident that with the necessary technical and financial backing, Zimbabwe's health sector will be revitalised,” he said.
Over the past few years, Zimbabwe has been hit by recurring diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks, which left scores dead.
This month, more than 6 000 cases of diarrhoea were reported in the towns of Masvingo and Kadoma and children were the worst affected.
Zimbabwe's health delivery system is slowly showing signs of recovery as a result of contributions from aid agencies. - Sapa-AFP