Mitchell Dzoro
The National Health Strategy Report for Zimbabwe has noted substantial improvements made by the country’s health sector in upgrading healthcare facilities across the nation.
According to the report which was presented by the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. Mombeshora, the implementation of the National Health Strategy over the 2021-2024 period has yielded tangible advancements in Zimbabwe’s medical infrastructure. The government’s targeted investments and initiatives have driven notable upgrades and expansions to healthcare centers and hospitals throughout the country.
Zimbabwe’s Information Minister, Jenfan Muswere, addressed the issue of medicine availability, highlighting that it had been a point of concern over the preceding years. However, the Minister noted that the data presented in the National Health Strategy Performance Report indicated improvements in this area since the year 2020.
“There was a general increase in the availability of medicines in health facilities, from 51 percent in 2020 to 54.1% in 2021. In the second quarter of 2022, almost 96 percent of public health facilities had at least 80 percent of essential medicines in stock. Antimalarials, ARVs, and anti-TB medicine stocks remained adequate during the period,” said Dr. Muswere.
The report also noted the country’s significant strides in addressing the HIV pandemic. According to the data presented, the report indicated that in 2021, the proportion of people who were living with HIV who were put on antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 98 percent. The AIDS mortality rate has continued to decline, according to the report.
The National Health Strategy report indicated that during the first half of the National Health Strategy implementation, female life expectancy at birth rose from 66.5 years to 68 years, while male life expectancy at birth stayed constant at 61 years.
The enhanced longevity observed in populations has been largely attributed to the increased accessibility and utilization of medical treatments and healthcare resources. This trend was particularly evident among women, who demonstrate a greater propensity to seek out and engage with health services compared to men.
The availability of medicines and medical facilities, in hospitals and clinics, has been said to be key contributing factors to the overall improvement in the quality of lives and the extension of lifespans within these communities.