The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.” – Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931
Council raises medical charges
MARONDERA – The cash strapped and poorly managed rural district council here, has increased clinic fees without approval from councillors, allegedly to make up for misappropriated cash.
Led by Tendai Gundo, the local authority is accused of spending too much money on personal vehicles and salaries for those in management, at the expense of service delivery. Gundo takes home over US$1 600 per month while other management staff average US$800.
The unilaterally increased fees will result in poor patients paying charges as high as US$30 per clinic visit. This is beyond the reach of rural communities serviced by council medical institutions. Besides putting peoples lives at the mercy of curable dieses, the decision could be another spanner in the works against the inclusive government. I think Gundo wants to make peoples lives difficult and incite them to discredit efforts made by the GPA, said a management member at the council.
The official said there was no justification in increasing the fees, as the drugs were donated by UNICEF.
Villagers and communities served by council clinics described the fee increase as cruel and insensitive to the plight of the poor.
The sick will be forced to revert to unsafe traditional and religious methods of treatment. If we are failing to raise a dollar for the grinding mill, how can one afford US$30 for the clinic? This is cruelty on the part of council authorities.
Gundo could not be reached for comment.
Post published in: News