Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Zimbabwe

The health care system in Zimbabwe is now facing a lot of problems and downfalls. The main reason why this is happening is that the government failed, and still fails, to place ample concern and budget to the health sector. In early 2009, hospitals in Zimbabwe are not much functioning and operating anymore, and women who are to give birth are asked to bring their own medicines, antiseptic, water and candles. In the same year, cholera has been epidemic in the country and has killed thousands of Zimbabweans. This is because there were no operating public hospitals; add that to the fact that there has been poor water and sanitation system in the country for years already. The government has failed to maintain the country’s water purification system and the President and his government has not been doing the right actions regarding the issue. For many years now, political chaos in the country has damaged the health care system very much, characterized by shortage of medicine and equipment and barely operating medical institutions. At present, only a small percentage of the population, most are the elite, can afford access to health care due to the dollarization of the economy. Indeed, political and economic problems have caused much damage to the health care system of Zimbabwe and are continuing to do so.

Aside from cholera, HIV/AIDS is also one of the main problems in the country. There were 2.3 million reported cases in 2001 and incurred over 200,000 deaths since then. Tuberculosis and maternal mortality have also been problems being faced by the Zimbabwean healthcare system.