Community members in Tsholotsho North have noted that quality health services is key to the development of the district. This came out during a community dialogue meeting in Tsholotsho North ward 5 organised by a community peace club established by a community that works with Heal Zimbabwe. The objective of the dialogue meeting was to discuss challenges that are faced by community members in accessing health services at Sipepa clinic. The dialogue was a follow up on the Duty Bearers training that was conducted earlier in the month where it was unanimously agreed that there was need to engage clinic personnel and the various Health committees. The dialogue was attended by community members who include Traditional leaders, Village Development Committee (VIDCO) members, women groups and youths.
The dialogue meeting afforded community members an opportunity to interact with representatives from the Health Centre Committee (HCC) and the Health Advisory Board (HAB) and highlight challenges they faced in accessing health services at Sipepa clinic. Among the issues highlighted by community members are shortages of drugs and lack of medical personnel at Sipepa clinic. Community members also noted access to quality health was a constitution right provided for by Section 76 of the constitution that highlights that, “Every citizen and permanent resident of Zimbabwe has the right to have access to basic health-care services, including reproductive health-care services”. Community members further noted that provision of quality health services is central to human happiness and well-being. It also makes an important contribution to economic progress, as healthy populations live longer and are more productive
As a way forward, HCC and HAB were assigned to take up the issue with clinic officials at Sipepa clinic and later on conduct a feedback meeting where they will appraise the community. The dialogue meeting come against a background where Heal Zimbabwe community peace structures across are conducting Social Accountability engagement platforms across the country’s 210 constituencies. The Social accountability dialogue meetings are meant to ensure that community leaders together with the local community work together for the development of their communities.
Source: Heal Zimbabwe
