The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
GOVERNMENT’S Results Based Financing (RBF) has reduced maternal mortality and morbidity, while also improving rural health workers’ morale in the province, Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga has said.
In an interview during a media tour of Manicaland clinics last week, Dr Mukuzunga said RBF and Health Sector Development Support Project Additional Financing (HSDSP AF), a collaboration between Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development AID (CORDAID) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care helped in increasing the number of skilled deliveries and improving the quality of antenatal and postnatal care in the province.
He said this resonates well with Government’s National Development Strategy (NDS1) which speaks on leaving no one and no place behind.
“It is our thrust as a country to leave no place and no one behind and this initiative has greatly benefited our rural women who were previously having challenges in accessing quality care.
“As a result, RBF has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality rates and improving the health outcomes of mothers and babies.
“The clinic staff and their Health Centre Committees (HCC) in Manicaland have been working well in selecting their yearly goals and targets, as well as meeting them. It is impressive because some of the clinics have been turned into state-of-the-art facilities due to RBF,” he said.
Dr Mukuzunga said a number of health centres have improved their infrastructure, depending on their needs. Most of them constructed waiting mother’s shelters and maternity wards.
He said the move has significantly reduced maternal and infant mortality rates, as well as improving the overall well-being of mothers and their children.
“The initiative has provided better equipment, training for our health staff and support for pregnant and postnatal women, especially in remote areas where access to health care is limited.
“RBF has improved the quality and accessibility of health services for mothers and children in rural areas as it also eliminates user fees, while providing incentives to health facilities, based on their performance,” he said.
He added that part of the funds under the RBF are channelled towards community clinic staff allowances to ensure that they are motivated and conduct their duties well.
“Our health workers are dedicated to duty. What is interesting to note is that there is a component that also goes to the health care workers, and this motivates them as they strive to do better than the previous year,” he said.
In a separate interview, Dora Clinic’s Sister-in-Charge, Mrs Violet Chitsa said mothers and children in the area used to face geographical and economic barriers to health care.
“The programme has also helped promote inclusiveness and equity for mothers and children living with disabilities who often face additional challenges in accessing basic health care services,” she said.
The clinic managed to revamp their waiting mother’s shelter as well as their clinic, which helped improve the institution’s deliveries in an area that was previously known for preferring home deliveries.
Chitakatira Clinic’s Nurse-in-Charge, Mr John Musindo said the RBF initiative works through structures and aims to raise awareness, create opportunities and implement interventions to make health facilities such as his more accessible to women.
One of the beneficiaries of the Dora Clinic renovation project, Mrs Fiona Magora expressed gratitude for the high-quality service and attention they are receiving from staff members, and for the enhanced infrastructure and equipment that made her delivery smooth and safe.
She also highlighted the importance of the clinic for the community, especially for the health and well-being of pregnant women and children.
The RBF programme aligns with the World Health Organisation’s Goals of Universal Health Coverage, which seeks to ensure that everyone can access the health services they need without facing any financial challenges.
It has been successfully implemented in all districts across the country.
The programme was launched in 2011 as a joint effort between the Government and World Bank.
CORDAID is implementing the programme together with the Health Ministry.
