Zim to offer free healthcare starting May

Zimbabwe will from May start offering free health care to pregnant women, children and the elderly in what has been described as a giant leap for a country still emerging from a decade long economic recession.

The European Union (EU) this week donated $5.2 million towards the Health Transition Fund, which is expected to cover for the free treatment.

A target of $10 million was set to kick start the scheme.

Health and Child Welfare minister Dr Henry Madzorera said since the formation of a power sharing agreement in 2009 funding for the health sector had been improving with each year.

But user fees remained beyond the reach of many in a country where about 80 per cent of the population is unemployed.

'Remarkable'

"Nobody should pay at the point of service and our aim is that in a month or two there should be total removal of user fees for pregnant women, children under five and those over 60 years of age," he said.

"The signing (of the EU grant) means we have achieved 50 per cent of what we are aiming at, which is remarkable."

UNICEF country representative Dr Peter Salama said women and children had borne the brunt of Zimbabwe economic crisis and the EU grant would go a long way in alleviating their plight.