https://africarapport.com/zimbabwe-...officials-to-die-in-hospitals-they-neglected/
Dr Peter Magombeyi says that hospitals are not well-equipped to handle the virus.
January 23, 2021
ByWilliams T.M.
The political elite in Zimbabwe are dying in the same hospitals they once shunned, because at the time, they thought they could get better medical facilities abroad. | Source: Twitter
The raging second wave of the covid-19 epidemic in Zimbabwe has levelled the playing field for medical attention and treatment, forcing the once untouchable government officials to die or survive in hospitals they neglected for so long.
There was no incentive for the political elite to improve the country’s healthcare systems because they would fly to foreign nations for medical attention.
But that time is long gone as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Each man to his own country of residence. Both the rich and the poor.
Zimbabwe government officials die from covid-19 in hospitals they ignored
This week has seen current and former government officials affiliated with Zanu pf succumb to the virus. They are passing away at under-capacitated local hospitals.
This is a major departure from the pre-covid era when politicians left the country’s healthcare facilities to decay while they shopped for exotic and state-of-the-art hospitals to recover or die in.
But not anymore.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sibusiso Moyo succumbed to the novel virus on Jan. 20, a few days after the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Ellen Gwaradzimba died of the same.
It was only a harbinger of things to come.
Two former government officials, Aeneas Chigwedere and Paradzai Zimondi, and the sitting Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Joel Biggie Matiza all died from covid-19 on the same day on Jan. 20.
Hospitals lack basic tools and testing equipment
Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health, recently claimed that the country has the coronavirus under control.
However, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana admitted on Jan. 1 that the country is “being overwhelmed and overrun by this virus.”
But events of the past week have proved otherwise. The government has to act quickly to curb the spread of the virus.
African Rapport reached out to Dr Peter Magombeyi, the former Acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), to get his insights on how the government is handling the second wave.
Magombeyi believes that the government does not have an effective plan to fight the virus and is “telling broad day lies.”
He added that “hospitals lack basic tools of the trade including PPE (personal protective equipment.)”
“Health professionals have tried to raise concerns but their cries have been silenced without anything done.” – Dr Magombeyi.
Even before the pandemic struck, the medical professionals protested over better salaries, working conditions and equipment.
In March last year, when the coronavirus cases were still very low, the medical fraternity went on strike over little covid-19 protection.
Zimbabwe has recorded 30,523 official covid-19 cases with 962 fatalities, John Hopkins University data shows. However, Dr Magombeyi argues that the official “figures are an underestimation of the actual figure.”
“Testing is inadequate,” claims the doctor who was abducted and tortured by alleged state agents for leading a strike demanding a pay rise in 2019.
Zimbabwe’s once-enviable healthcare system has collapsed under the watch of the Zanu pf government.
In November 2020, two women took Harare authorities to court to push for the re-opening of 42 maternity clinics.
Expecting mothers were forced to deliver their babies in makeshift maternity wards in the high-density surburb of Mbare.
And what about the vaccine?
Zimbabwe, which entered into another harsh lockdown with dusk-to-dawn curfew, is developing a vaccination plan, said Acting Information Minister Jefferson Muswere.
The country announced that it will get its first batch of the vaccine in February with frontline healthcare workers and the elderly getting preferential treatment.
Dr Magombeyi is doubtful the country has the financial muscle to procure the much-needed vaccine.
“We probably don’t have money to procure a batch to vaccinate 40% of our population.”
If it is true that politicians don’t let a ‘good crisis go to waste,’ then Zimbabwe has politicians who subscribe to that school of thought.
Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo was fired by the President in a covid-19 scandal in which the government was invoiced $28 million for disposable masks that could be sourced locally for less than $4 million.
At the centre of the scandal is a company called Drax International.
Delish Nguwaya, a representative of the company and a friend to President Mnangagwa’s son Collin, was arrested and later granted bail.
Dr Magombeyi said that “we should fix our own hospitals and equip them enough” as it benefits everyone.
The biggest lesson from this pandemic is that leaders need to invest in improving the country’s infrastructure and services because, at some point, help can only come from within.
The doctor added that the leaders don’t want to learn. “Good leaders die at home,” said Dr. Magombeyi, giving examples of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Zimbabwe’s former Vice President Joshua Nkomo.
But as Zimbabwe government officials die from covid-19 in hospitals they shunned, they did not do so out of their own choice, but out of necessity as the coronavirus pandemic greatly disturbed international travel and medical tourism.
All people are equal in the ‘eyes of covid-19.’
Dr Peter Magombeyi says that hospitals are not well-equipped to handle the virus.
January 23, 2021
ByWilliams T.M.
The political elite in Zimbabwe are dying in the same hospitals they once shunned, because at the time, they thought they could get better medical facilities abroad. | Source: Twitter
The raging second wave of the covid-19 epidemic in Zimbabwe has levelled the playing field for medical attention and treatment, forcing the once untouchable government officials to die or survive in hospitals they neglected for so long.
There was no incentive for the political elite to improve the country’s healthcare systems because they would fly to foreign nations for medical attention.
But that time is long gone as the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Each man to his own country of residence. Both the rich and the poor.
Zimbabwe government officials die from covid-19 in hospitals they ignored
This week has seen current and former government officials affiliated with Zanu pf succumb to the virus. They are passing away at under-capacitated local hospitals.
This is a major departure from the pre-covid era when politicians left the country’s healthcare facilities to decay while they shopped for exotic and state-of-the-art hospitals to recover or die in.
But not anymore.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sibusiso Moyo succumbed to the novel virus on Jan. 20, a few days after the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Ellen Gwaradzimba died of the same.
It was only a harbinger of things to come.
Two former government officials, Aeneas Chigwedere and Paradzai Zimondi, and the sitting Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Joel Biggie Matiza all died from covid-19 on the same day on Jan. 20.
Hospitals lack basic tools and testing equipment
Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health, recently claimed that the country has the coronavirus under control.
However, Zimbabwe’s Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana admitted on Jan. 1 that the country is “being overwhelmed and overrun by this virus.”
But events of the past week have proved otherwise. The government has to act quickly to curb the spread of the virus.
African Rapport reached out to Dr Peter Magombeyi, the former Acting President of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA), to get his insights on how the government is handling the second wave.
Magombeyi believes that the government does not have an effective plan to fight the virus and is “telling broad day lies.”
He added that “hospitals lack basic tools of the trade including PPE (personal protective equipment.)”
“Health professionals have tried to raise concerns but their cries have been silenced without anything done.” – Dr Magombeyi.
Even before the pandemic struck, the medical professionals protested over better salaries, working conditions and equipment.
In March last year, when the coronavirus cases were still very low, the medical fraternity went on strike over little covid-19 protection.
Zimbabwe has recorded 30,523 official covid-19 cases with 962 fatalities, John Hopkins University data shows. However, Dr Magombeyi argues that the official “figures are an underestimation of the actual figure.”
“Testing is inadequate,” claims the doctor who was abducted and tortured by alleged state agents for leading a strike demanding a pay rise in 2019.
Zimbabwe’s once-enviable healthcare system has collapsed under the watch of the Zanu pf government.
In November 2020, two women took Harare authorities to court to push for the re-opening of 42 maternity clinics.
Expecting mothers were forced to deliver their babies in makeshift maternity wards in the high-density surburb of Mbare.
And what about the vaccine?
Zimbabwe, which entered into another harsh lockdown with dusk-to-dawn curfew, is developing a vaccination plan, said Acting Information Minister Jefferson Muswere.
The country announced that it will get its first batch of the vaccine in February with frontline healthcare workers and the elderly getting preferential treatment.
Dr Magombeyi is doubtful the country has the financial muscle to procure the much-needed vaccine.
“We probably don’t have money to procure a batch to vaccinate 40% of our population.”
If it is true that politicians don’t let a ‘good crisis go to waste,’ then Zimbabwe has politicians who subscribe to that school of thought.
Former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo was fired by the President in a covid-19 scandal in which the government was invoiced $28 million for disposable masks that could be sourced locally for less than $4 million.
At the centre of the scandal is a company called Drax International.
Delish Nguwaya, a representative of the company and a friend to President Mnangagwa’s son Collin, was arrested and later granted bail.
Dr Magombeyi said that “we should fix our own hospitals and equip them enough” as it benefits everyone.
The biggest lesson from this pandemic is that leaders need to invest in improving the country’s infrastructure and services because, at some point, help can only come from within.
The doctor added that the leaders don’t want to learn. “Good leaders die at home,” said Dr. Magombeyi, giving examples of South Africa’s Nelson Mandela and Zimbabwe’s former Vice President Joshua Nkomo.
But as Zimbabwe government officials die from covid-19 in hospitals they shunned, they did not do so out of their own choice, but out of necessity as the coronavirus pandemic greatly disturbed international travel and medical tourism.
All people are equal in the ‘eyes of covid-19.’
