Corruption thwarts access to birth records at council clinics

UNBRIDLED corruption at council clinics has rendered many children “nameless” as some health personnel is demanding bribes in order to issue birth records of newborn babies, and sadly, those who can’t comply with their demands are not served. Birth records are a prerequisite for acquiring birth certificates.

Reports from women who gave birth at council clinics in highdensity suburbs of Glen View, Mabvuku and Highfield allege that the health personnel demanded bribes ranging from US$5 to US$10 in order to issue birth records.

One woman from Highfield said she gave birth at Highfield Polyclinic six months ago, but was not given a birth record for her child as the nurses were demanding US$5 which she did not have.

At a recently held maternal health meeting in Mabvuku hosted by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), scores of women said they were failing to access birth records and health cards for their newborn babies.

The women appealed for the intervention of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

It also emerged that the clinic health personnel is creating an artificial shortage of birth record books as a strategy of coercing desperate mothers to pay bribes.

However, a senior official in the council health department indicated that birth records were available at council clinics in abundance.

According to council policy, the registration fees which women pay to access maternal health services include provision of birth records and child birth cards without an extra payment.

The mothers said the delay or non-issuance of birth records was standing in the way of accessing birth certificates for their children.

Section 81(1)(b) and (c) of the Constitution provides that every child should be given a first name and family name, and also the prompt provision of a birth certificate.

Corruption has become common practice at most council clinics and has seriously impacted access to maternal and other healthcare services in Harare.

CHRA calls upon the Harare City Council to investigate this issue and to take reasonable action as the situation has gone out of hand.