Japan Moved By Zimbabwe's Health Care Sector, Pledges To Supply Equipment

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Toshiyuki Iwado has expressed concern over Zimbabwe’s collapsed health sector highlighted by dilapidated health care infrastructure and the turning away of patients.

Speaking at the signing of an exchange note with Zimbabwe for Harare Hospital equipment supply on Wednesday, Iwado said:

Zimbabwe used to have a well-established health sector, through its well-organised hospitals like Harare Children’s Hospital. However, it goes without saying that in recent years those standards have become compromised.

“There is a lack of necessary equipment. It has been reported that Harare Children’s Neonatal Unit does not have sufficient equipment to monitor and treat babies, with many being turned away without proper treatment.

He added that in addition to the inadequacy of requisite equipment, available equipment and hospitals have not been efficiently managed and the result was a disorganised or nonhygienic environment.

His remarks come when doctors in pubic health institutions have recently resumed their duties following an industrial action which started on the 3rd of September last year over “paltry” salaries and poor working conditions.

Analysts have often argued that political elites show little concern over the state of the local health sector since they get medical attention from other countries.

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