World Health Day: Longevity - a Cause for Concern in Zimbabwe

Huddersfield, United Kingdom - (5 April 2012) The  World Health Organisation on this special day focuses on how good health can add years to life, enabling older men and women to not only live longer, but also to extend their active involvement in all levels of society.  

While the world celebrates the world health day Zimbabwe Peoples Movement gawks at the current tragic Zimbabwean health situation with incredulity.   

According to the World Development Indicators 2005 database Zimbabwe mortality statistics death rate, crude per 1,000 people stands at 22.9 %.  

The 06 April 2011 Multiple Indicator Monitoring Survey (MIMS) revealed that the mortality rate was 725 per 100,000 live births- almost triple the 1990 rate of 285 per 100,000 live births.  

The deterioration was attributed to the unavailability of essential maternity and Emergency Obstetric and Neo-Natal Care equipment, commodities and conditions as well as the shortage of trained human resources.

The 15 May 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) ranked Zimbabwe 17th on the list of 22 high burden TB countries in the world, with an estimated 71961 new TB cases in 2007 with an estimated incident rate of 539 cases per 100,000 people.  

May the world celebrate with the knowledge that, in Zimbabwe the current regime has no concern about its people in terms of basic health needs.  It is impossible for the poor Zimbabwean citizen to access the basic health services which should be provided by the government they serve.

It is impossible to access medication and information as this is streamlined according to political affiliation, and non ZANU-PF members are most affected.

Health infrastructure suffered from the neglect by the regime which resulted in the emigration of qualified professionals and skilled staff.   

Reports have been made little positive significant changes on the HIV/AIDS decline on the general population.
Currently in Harare and elsewhere people live under poor environmental conditions (poor sanitary conditions, environmental degradation)thereby putting their lives  at risk, thousand are living without cleaning water and many are living under $2 a day.   
Zimbabwe Peoples Movement can reveal that according to evidence from International Journal of Epidemiology 04 June 2010, and UNAIDS report 15 Feb 2011; the decline in HIV/AIDS cases in Zimbabwe is due to deaths and behaviour change than the Zimbabwe government administered health sector services' effort or initiatives.  

The health sector emerged as one of the best in the world during the 1980s but through neglect and mismanagement has literally closed over years of dictatorship, living the entire population deprived of a basic need which is a violation of human rights.

 Therefore ZPM notes with sadness that the Zimbabwe health ministry is providing poor services to its citizens against the background of social, financial, economic challenges, rampant corruption, etc.  

Whereas at independence the health sector was excellent and once perceived as one of the best in the region and any envy of many world-wide.

This indeed is regrettable and helps to classify Zimbabwe as a politically failed state viewed as an 'object of pity' among its less illustrious peers in the continent and beyond. Hospitals have closed; skilled staff migrated due to the polarised political situation and economic meltdown which has worsened over the years.

Contact: I.Moyo 00447983475294 / G.Moyo 00447411218090