Paidamoyo Chipunza

GOVERNMENT has raised US$59 million for the Health Transition Fund that will go towards removal of maternity user fees

and procurement of medical sundries and consumables.

Secretary for Health and Child Welfare Dr Gerald Gwinji said from the pledged money, the fund has so far received US$48 million.
He said disbursements for the first phase of the agreed priority areas have since been made.
“We are in the process of buying commodities and we hope in a few months a public announcement would be made on scrapping of user fees,” said Dr Gwinji.

He said the fund committee has so far committed US$11 million towards maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, US$28 million towards medical products, vaccines and technologies, US$8 million for human resources for health while US$10 million for health policy, planning and finance.
Dr Gwinji said Government was running a small study expected to guide officials on how to implement the long awaited national programme to scrap user fees. He said

the study is expected to take about a month from now, after which Government will make a formal announcement.“Remember this is a process we cannot wake up one day and announce that user fees have been scrapped,” he said. Central hospitals in Harare acknowledged that they have been informed by Government to look forward to the programme, but said they have not yet started assisting pregnant women free of charge.
However, our Bulawayo Bureau reported last Saturday that institutions in Bulawayo have received communication that pregnant women who register for delivery from

July 1 onwards will be assisted free of charge.
Expecting mothers are currently paying US$25 for registration to deliver at public clinics. The fund is a multi-donor pooled fund launched last year.