News / National
Zanu-PF returns Zimbabwe to the stone age
16 Feb 2025 at 14:57hrs | Views
That Zimbabwe's health sector is broken is a public secret, but the alarming decline under Zanu-PF's 45-year rule has reached new depths of crisis.
A widely circulated photo showing a patient at a local hospital "plastered" with pieces of a cardboard box and tape has become emblematic of the collapse of the healthcare system. The country's health sector, much like other essential services, is now in a chronic state of emergency due to government mismanagement, underfunding, lack of equipment, and a massive brain drain of healthcare professionals.
The exodus of skilled medical workers in search of better opportunities abroad has left the nation severely short of specialists and trained personnel. Public hospitals and clinics, often described as places where patients go to die, lack essential medicines, basic equipment, and proper maintenance. Even basic necessities like bandages and painkillers are often unavailable.
Zimbabwe's health crisis is not new. In 2008, a devastating cholera outbreak claimed 4,288 lives between August 2008 and July 2009. More recently, between 2023 and 2024, another cholera outbreak resulted in 700 deaths, highlighting the continued failure of the healthcare system to manage preventable diseases.
The sector remains severely underfunded and relies heavily on foreign aid to sustain operations. The primary donors funding Zimbabwe's health system include European Union member states such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden, which contribute through the Health Development Fund managed by UNICEF. This fund supports maternal and child health programs, with the United Nations Population Fund as another key implementing partner. Additionally, the Global Fund plays a crucial role in financing health initiatives, particularly in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Available data suggests that donor funding accounts for approximately 25% of Zimbabwe's total health expenditure. However, most of these funds are allocated to specific diseases rather than strengthening the healthcare infrastructure as a whole. The situation is expected to deteriorate further following the announcement by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump to slash billions in global health aid, including the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been a critical source of support for Zimbabwe's fight against HIV/AIDS.
Healthcare access in rural areas remains critically limited, exacerbating existing health disparities. Zimbabwe continues to struggle with a high burden of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as rising cases of non-communicable diseases. Without urgent and sustainable reforms, the country's health sector faces an even bleaker future.
A widely circulated photo showing a patient at a local hospital "plastered" with pieces of a cardboard box and tape has become emblematic of the collapse of the healthcare system. The country's health sector, much like other essential services, is now in a chronic state of emergency due to government mismanagement, underfunding, lack of equipment, and a massive brain drain of healthcare professionals.
The exodus of skilled medical workers in search of better opportunities abroad has left the nation severely short of specialists and trained personnel. Public hospitals and clinics, often described as places where patients go to die, lack essential medicines, basic equipment, and proper maintenance. Even basic necessities like bandages and painkillers are often unavailable.
Zimbabwe's health crisis is not new. In 2008, a devastating cholera outbreak claimed 4,288 lives between August 2008 and July 2009. More recently, between 2023 and 2024, another cholera outbreak resulted in 700 deaths, highlighting the continued failure of the healthcare system to manage preventable diseases.
The sector remains severely underfunded and relies heavily on foreign aid to sustain operations. The primary donors funding Zimbabwe's health system include European Union member states such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Sweden, which contribute through the Health Development Fund managed by UNICEF. This fund supports maternal and child health programs, with the United Nations Population Fund as another key implementing partner. Additionally, the Global Fund plays a crucial role in financing health initiatives, particularly in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Available data suggests that donor funding accounts for approximately 25% of Zimbabwe's total health expenditure. However, most of these funds are allocated to specific diseases rather than strengthening the healthcare infrastructure as a whole. The situation is expected to deteriorate further following the announcement by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump to slash billions in global health aid, including the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been a critical source of support for Zimbabwe's fight against HIV/AIDS.
Healthcare access in rural areas remains critically limited, exacerbating existing health disparities. Zimbabwe continues to struggle with a high burden of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as rising cases of non-communicable diseases. Without urgent and sustainable reforms, the country's health sector faces an even bleaker future.
Source - online
