The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MANICALAND hospitals were allocated $1,3 billion in the 2023 national budget in a move expected to improve the province’s health delivery system.
Among those set to benefit from the budget allocation are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as they will have easy access to health services, according to Mutasa South legislator, Honourable Misheck Mugadza.
In an interview at a PWD engagement meeting held in Mutare last week on Friday, Cde Mugadza said Government is doing a lot to ensure that PWDs have easy access to health services.
“The 2023 national budget is a good example of how Government is working tirelessly to bring attention and focus to different minorities, including PWDs in the country. As we move towards Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) of leaving no one and no place behind, Government is committed to attend to the needs of this special group.
“The 2023 national budget caters for their needs and we are happy that Government is doing a lot for them. We are glad that they are engaging us as duty bearers as they freely critique and analyse the national budget,” he said.
To improve their lives, the national budget also ensures that PWDs access education for skills and entrepreneurial development by providing an opportunity for them to benefit from the Public Service Disability employment quarter of 15 percent.
A total of $473,8b was allocated to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the provision of health care services to citizens up from $179, 9 billion allocated in 2022.
There is an increase of 163 percent, compared to the 133 percent overall budget increase.
The 11 percent set aside for total expenditures towards the health sector is part of Government’s efforts to meet the Abuja Declaration’s requirements of governments to allocate 15 percent of their total expenditures towards the health sector.
Presenting the 2023 national budget recently, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube said the votes allocated to different ministries are necessary to attain Vision 2030 of becoming an upper-middle income economy.
Manicaland hospitals received at least $1,3b in current and capital grants.
On current grants, the province’s referral hospital, Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital was allocated $500,8 million, while the rest of the district hospitals in the province were allocated $296,8m.
Manicaland primary care services otherwise known as rural health centres were also allocated $112,2m.
A further $300m was allocated to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital for buildings and structures, while $66m was allocated to the upgrading of Buhera District Hospital.
Minister Ncube said more money will be channelled towards the construction of rural health centres across the country’s numerous districts as Government is committed to the provision of quality health services.
This includes Mutasa district.
“Notwithstanding financial constraints, Government is committed to the provision of quality health services, as evidenced by the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of health facilities. Some of the notable projects are the Lupane Provincial Hospital, health posts in Mutasa, Mashayamvura, four in Gokwe North; and three in Centenary District, 30 polyclinics and five district hospitals under the NMS1 project, among others,” he said.
The move will immensely benefit PWDs who were having challenges of accessing health services due to proximity and mobility issues.
PWDs are estimated at about 1,4m, constituting almost 10 percent of Zimbabwe population as shown by the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
