The United States of America has pledged support for embattled health workers who have on several occasions embarked on industrial action over poor salaries and working conditions.
This was announced the Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Art Brown after meeting Health Minister Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. Brown said:
We have met with the Vice President to collaborate and develop objectives in the health sector. We are committed to improving human progress in the country especially the health sector, which is very important.
So, we are focusing on the human resource issues to make sure the health personnel is being paid.
Resolving that issue is critical because we have critical health investments to be made and we need to make sure that the system is going to support the health needs of Zimbabweans.
Brown added that “a government to government agreement” exists between Zimbabwe and the USA which is aimed at supporting and alleviating health issues which were badly affected by Covid-19.
Since last year, scores of health caregivers deserted public health institutions citing poor working conditions. Some are still considering going abroad and are accusing the government of initiating processes meant to block them from leaving Zimbabwe.
The country’s health sector has been collapsed for decades now, many blame the ruling ZANU PF for the poor state of the sector.
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