Zim accelerates NCDs response, investments
ZIMBABWE is accelerating its national response and investment into combating non-communicable diseases, having registered considerable progress on communicable diseases, Acting President and Minister of Health and Child Care Constantino Chiwenga said yesterday.
He was officially opening the eye camp at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where free corrective eye procedures are being provided at one of the best eye specialist centres in the region.
On normal days outside the camp, patients aged between five and 65 years will pay a nominal fee at the hospital, far below what is charged at private facilities.
The launch of the camp is in sync with President Mnangagwa’s thrust to offer a healthcare system that answers to all the needs of the populace.
Acting President Chiwenga said the coming on board of the eye camp was part of the Government’s efforts to complete the overall healthcare system, particularly as Zimbabwe has made strides in public health as exemplified by its response to Covid-19 which got global applause.
On the same day, the Acting President officially launched the country’s blueprint, the National Eye Health Strategy for Zimbabwe 2021-2025, which will be the guiding principle towards integrated people-centred eye care.
The launch follows the resolution of the World Health Assembly in August 2020. The strategy is anchored on the need for the provision of access to quality and integrated patient-centred services for all, .including the vulnerable.
“The health sector in Zimbabwe is on a clear path to ensure universal health coverage and access and achieve the national vision of an upper-middle income economy by the year 2030,” said Acting President Chiwenga.
“In Zimbabwe, communicable diseases have historically contributed the most to the burden of disease, but non-communicable diseases have been on the rise in recent years.
“The previous National Health Strategy (2016-2020) had a major emphasis on public health, particularly communicable diseases, which led to remarkable results.
“The National Eye Health Strategy has been developed at an opportune time, when the Ministry of Health and Child Care has undergone a restructuring exercise to enhance efficiency in the health sector.”