..local community takes initiative Villagers told The Zimbabwean that they are forced to walk 40km to the hearest clinic in Zimunya, or travel to
Mutare Provincial hospital because local clinics do not have facilities for storage of ARV drugs.
Due to poor road networks, those who prefer to hike to the provincial hospital will have to fork out more on transport fares as motorists take advantage of the poor roads to make a killing.
We are in serious trouble because our health condition does not allow walking such long distance. My legs swell if I walk long distances and we are poor we cannot afford the $3 transport charge, said Tambu Mhangami of Dora village.
Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Milton Chemhuru said according to World Health Organisation standards patients on ART should access their drugs within a 10km radius of where they live. He said most clinics in the area lacked facilities that are necessary for the storage of such drugs.
Lack of funds is impacting on our programmes to construct a clinic that has facilities to store drugs for our local
communities, said Chemhuru.
Local councillor, Frank Gotosa, said the community had committed itself to mould bricks and raise funds to construct a clinic to ease the burden for those living with HIV.
Our communities are poor and so we have taken it upon ourselves to serve them through brick moulding and fund raising activities so that we can have a better clinic, he said. Meanwhile, the National Aids Council (NAC) said it would launch an outreach programme for ARV distribution programme in remote areas.
Post published in: News