By Shingirai Mpofu

THERE is need to increase funding allocated to the health sector in order to combat infectious diseases, director of health information and promotion in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Portia Manangazira has said.
In an interview with The Patriot, Dr Manangazira said inadequate funding had resulted in non governmental organisations (NGOs) taking advantage of the gap to further their agendas.
“NGOs have a tendency of furthering their interests and in doing so, they give false accounts of their coverage in the country,” she said.
Civic societies operations in the country have been dabbling in politics especially in the last decade, where some have become willing instruments of the regime change agenda.
After the adoption of the Equity in Health and Primary policy in 1980 to correct colonial imbalances in the health sector, there was a significant narrowing of the gap between health provision in rural areas and urban areas.
However, by the mid 90s there was growing inequity in health provision and health care due to the adoption of the Economic Structural Adjustment Policies (ESAP), 1991–1995 recommended by the International Monetary Fund.
The ESAP caused public expenditure decline on health care to 39 percent between 1994-95.
This meant reduced spending on common drugs, extension and preventative health services, specialist facilities and treatment and other components of quality health care delivery.
Due to the user-fee system there was high prenatal mortality incidences and decreased access to prenatal consultancies, equipment, necessary facilities and drugs.
This situation was worsened in 2008 when the country was under heavy sanctions.
According to Dr Manangazira, despite the fact that Zimbabwe is signatory to the Abuja Declaration of 2000 in which African countries agreed to commit 15 percent of their national budget to health, the ministry is still struggling.
“Our goal as a department is to be in touch with the communities and reach out as fast as possible to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases, and with adequate funding we will be able to tackle that goal effectively”, she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Manangazira has urged people to be on the lookout for infectious diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea.
“Ingredients for cholera are still there, sewer spillages are a common occurrence and with the rains pouring, these diseases spread,” she said.
This week, 4 996 cases of diarrhoea were reported nationwide, killing 12 people.
Manicaland topped the list with 975 cases and Masvingo 875.
Two deaths were reported in Mberengwa, one in Zvimba, three at Harare Central Hospital, four in Masvingo and two in Chiredzi.
“People should also be on the lookout for dysentery, an intestinal inflammation, especially in the colon, which can lead to severe diarrhoea with mucus or blood,” said Dr Manangazira.
Victims, she said, had to practise basic rehydration to help avert loss of lives adding that personal hygiene, treating drinking water and good sanitation practices were also critical.