It comes so easily for us to think of hospitals as a place where someone will automatically be there for you, and will be doing everything they can to help make you better. But with the inflation rates and only 20% of people in Zimbabwe even having a job, there aren't enough nurses or doctors to help anymore, let alone the supplies and medicines the people need for treatment. This health crisis is one of the many issues involved in the situation in Zimbabwe, and it is unclear whether there is much anyone can do at this point.
After looking over some other articles on the crisis, many believe that it could possibly be too late for a recovery. In this article, one member of the Junior Doctors Association considers this health care neglect to be ' genocide by the government'. Robert Mugabe has been in power for the past 28 years, and was supposed to be in a run-off for the presidency with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai this year. Mugabe said "only God" could remove him from power. Tsvangirai ended up pulling out of the run-off after many systematic attacks and violence throughout Zimbabwe, and said that if Mugabe would not accept defeat, there was no point in taking part in a sham election. After so many discussions of corruption in much of the African government, what is your opinion on whether or not Zimbabwe can recover from this? And is it possible with Robert Mugabe as their President?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7714892.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7293810.stm
2 comments:
I agree with Brooke that we have probably taken our hospitals for granted, as always being there for us. It is shocking how the government has ignored this increasing problem for so long, however, I do not think it should be considered "genocide by the government." I do not think the government purposely did this, but it is certainly neglect on its part. With Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president, a complete turn-around is needed, but like Dr. Bashri said in class, there could be a coup tomorrow, and then everything has to start all over again.
I suppose we do take our hospitals for grantd in the U.S. However, there are LOADS of people here that can't afford hospitals, medicine or even general checkups...it isn't just something that is happening abroad.
I'm not sure either if the Zimbabwean government is neglecting the health care system on purpose. Medicince costs money. Equipment costs money. Medical staff costs money. Money isn't something Zimbabwe has a lot of right now, especially with a 23,000,000% inflation rate.
I don't think reform is possible without a change in government. Mugabe needs to quit his power trip, and hand over the reins to someone who is capable of saving their country.
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