Harare — THE United Nations Population Fund says it has delivered emergency reproductive kits, medicine and surgical supplies to maternity care units in central hospitals in the country enough to benefit an estimated 900 000 mothers for at least three months.
According to a report by UNFPA published on Boxing Day, the supplies were delivered over the past week in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
"The total consignment can meet the needs of a population of about 900 000 for at least three months," UNFPA said.
The agency has also provided drugs to prevent pregnancy-related complications such as haemorrhaging and eclampsia (an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy) in hospitals throughout the country for the next six months.
UNFPA has also moved in to pay "incentives" to care medics some of whom had not reporting for work because of the current economic challenges facing the nation.
The agency challenged Government, non-governmental organisations and other bodies to help revitalise the health sector.
The development comes a week after the United Nations Children's Fund airlifted 140 tonnes of medical supplies into the country in response to Government's request for assistance to combat cholera and to revive the health delivery system.
These comprised oral rehydration supplies, drip equipment, intravenous fluid, and midwifery and obstetric kits.
Since December 4 when Government declared the cholera outbreak a national emergency, Zimbabwe has received assistance from United Nations agencies and various well-wishers.
Last week China donated US$500 000 in cash towards the fight against cholera.
Earlier on Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania had made contributions in cash and kind with Sadc chairman and South African President Kgalema Motlanthe announcing mid this month that the region was launching an urgent international campaign to assist Zimbabwe tackle the cholera outbreak.
When he declared the cholera outbreak a national emergency, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr David Parirenyatwa, bemoaned the critical shortage of resources in the health sector, notably staff, drugs, food and equipment, and appealed for assistance to alleviate the situation.
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It is unfortunate that Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Norway, Sweden, China, UN and others have to continue to pay for the idiotic behavior of Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-pf operatives. Clearly this is just a band-aid to the deep problems of Zimbabwe, especially when we know that Mugabe is the problem not the solution. Mugabe has worsened the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. A long-term solution would be to get rid of Robert Mugabe!