THE Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) on Friday slammed the Harare City Council (HCC) for their unwillingness to open clinics and provide mandatory health services.
All forty-two of the city’s clinics had been closed due to COVID-19.
HCC, however, is allegedly still unwilling to open the doors to the public and ensure that there are enough clinics to offer emergency services to residents, especially pregnant women.
CHRA said the challenge being faced by HCC pertaining to the court order was evidence of the city’s reluctance to open clinics.
Addressing the media, CHRA reiterated that they were shocked by the city’s ignorance and unbridled corruption which had led to the collapse of the healthcare system.
“CHRA is concerned and disappointed with the silence of the central government, in particular the Ministry of Health and Child Care over the closure of clinics when it has an oversight role of the council’s health department,” the association also said.
CHRA noted that a lot of people had lost their lives, including pregnant women, as a result of the lack of healthcare and due to negligence by local authorities.
“The burden of closure of clinics is unbearable towards pregnant women who have a role in giving life and taking care of the sick in the homes,” the residents association noted.
“We have lost lives of women and children due to the paralysis within the city’s health delivery system,” CHRA also noted.
A pregnant woman reportedly had a miscarriage after being turned away at Highfields Poly-clinic after the nurse allegedly told her that their salaries did not allow them to attend to her.
CHRA has demanded that council finds progressive ways to resolve labour disputes among its health personnel such that the issue does not spill over to negatively impact on the health delivery system.
According to the National Association of Societies for the Care of the Handicapped (NASCOH) spokesperson, Daniel Piki, health services for the handicapped had become even more challenging since they have to travel to get assistance.
“It has become difficult for the disabled community to find efficient health delivery system since they have to be re-directed to get help instead of finding clinics at their doorsteps,” he said.
CHRA has since appealed to the High Court for legal assistance and according to the association, CHRA is prepared to elevate the matter until the issue is resolved. – Zim Morning Post
