Zimbabwe’s health delivery system has improved greatly since the installation of the national unity government in 2009, but there remain shortages of critical staff such as doctors and midwives, Health Minister Henry Madzorera said.
In an interview during a U.S. visit, Dr. Madzorera said that while the country no longer has a shortage of nurses, health officials are appealing to experienced workers abroad to come home on sabbatical and help as and when they can.
Dr. Madzorera was in Washington this week at the invitation of ZimHealth-USA, an association of Zimbabwean health professionals who want to assist the revival of the sector back home.
Addressing the Zimbabwean medical diaspora at the weekend, the minister appealed for support on initiatives to reduce the maternal mortality rate and deaths from HIV/Aids in particular.
Dr. Madzorera told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that he is touched by the desire of Zimbabweans living in the diaspora to contribute to the rebuilding of the country's once-thriving health sector.
ZimHealth member Norbert Mugwagwa, an operations adviser at the World Bank, said the group aims to mobilize the diaspora and friends of Zimbabwe to see how best they can help improve health services delivery.
