ZIMBABWE’S HEALTH CRISIS: UNPREPARED FOR COVID-19’S SECOND WAVE

Late last year, the Covid-19 pandemic’s first wave tragically claimed the life of one of Zimbabwe’s most prominent figures, Minister Shiri, signaling a grim forecast for the nation’s battle against the virus. With the health sector in a progressive decline for decades, the first wave’s lower mortality rate offered little solace, as it became clear that assuming Zimbabwe’s health systems could withstand a second wave was at best naive, at worst dangerously ignorant.

The stark reality is that Zimbabwe’s health infrastructure was already on its knees before the pandemic hit. High-profile individuals, including former President Mugabe and General Chiwenga, sought medical treatment abroad, underscoring a deep mistrust in the local health services among the nation’s elite. This lack of confidence is not unfounded; the health systems are described as “massively incapacitated” and “ancient,” casting doubt on their ability to cope with the ongoing health crisis.

The first wave of Covid-19 in 2020 saw 2.7 million Africans infected and over 65,000 deaths, with Zimbabwe’s testing and reporting mechanisms both unreliable and underwhelming. The second wave, marked by a more rapid spread and higher exposure risk, only compounds the existing challenges. The country’s opaque governance further exacerbates the situation, with many cases likely going unreported.

Zimbabwe faces a dire shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, essential medical equipment, and infrastructure. The introduction of prohibitive healthcare costs by the new government has made access to health services even more unattainable for the majority, leaving the population vulnerable to the unchecked spread of the virus. The healthcare system is already struggling to manage the current caseload, and with new variants on the rise, the situation is set to worsen.

A personal account from UMP highlights the systemic failures in managing the pandemic: patients testing positive for Covid-19 are sent home without proper follow-up or support, forced to rely on untested home remedies and without the means to isolate effectively. This lack of action and the absence of contact tracing reveal a health system in crisis, unable to protect its citizens or stem the spread of the virus.

In 2017-2018, a meager 7.7% of the national budget was allocated to health, doing little to modernize or prepare the sector for a crisis of this magnitude. The consequence is a health system incapable of accommodating the needs of its patients, with major hospitals like Parirenyatwa severely under-equipped and understaffed. The reality is grim: with only a handful of ICU beds and ventilators for an overwhelming number of patients, the chances of receiving adequate care are slim.

The government’s response has been criticized as inadequate and, at times, politically motivated, with lockdown measures imposed without the necessary support for those affected. Healthcare workers are demoralized and lack the essential tools to care for patients effectively, resulting in a situation where even the limited number of individuals who can access hospital care are not guaranteed the basic necessities for survival.

The unfolding health crisis in Zimbabwe is a stark reminder of the consequences of prolonged neglect and underinvestment in public health systems. As the country grapples with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the harsh reality is that without significant intervention, the health system is ill-prepared to protect its citizens from the devastating impact of the virus. Only through acknowledging these challenges and taking immediate, comprehensive action can Zimbabwe hope to mitigate the dire consequences of this global health emergency.