Roseline Mutare
The haphazardly planned settlement of Victoria Range is putting a strain on City of Masvingo’s healthcare delivery capacity.
A recent meeting between vendors, local authorities, and Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) in Masvingo City highlighted the challenges facing the city’s public finance management, particularly in the healthcare sector.
One of the key issues raised was the strain on city resources due to residents of Victoria Range, which falls under Masvingo Rural, relying on Masvingo City’s clinics.
Ward 3 Councillor Maxwell Madhuna who is also the health committee chairman noted that the city’s budget is allocated according to its population, but the influx of Victoria Range residents puts additional pressure on the city’s healthcare services.
Madhuna suggested that Masvingo Rural should contribute to the budget or medication for the clinics to alleviate this pressure.
The meeting hosted by the VISET also highlighted other challenges facing the city’s clinics, including limited hours of operation, inadequate facilities, and unavailability of doctors. The stakeholders agreed to work together to address these challenges and improve health service delivery in Masvingo City.
Tracey Moyo, a part-time researcher at The Labour and Economic Development Research Institute of Zimbabwe (LEDRIZ), underscored the significant repercussions of inadequate financial management in the healthcare sector. She pointed out that poorly allocated resources have led to severely underfunded clinics, which in turn compromise the quality of healthcare services available to the community.
Moyo emphasized that implementing robust public financial management practices is essential not only for curbing corruption and minimizing waste but also for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery within the city, by ensuring that funds are properly managed and directed towards necessary health initiatives, the overall wellbeing of the population could see marked improvement.
