Zimbabwe’s New Mothers Face Extortion for ‘Free’ Child Health Cards
In Zimbabwe, mothers are facing challenges in acquiring free Child Health Cards, which are crucial for tracking infants’ health. Due to a persistent shortage, a shadow market has emerged where cards are sold for payment. This situation reveals structural corruption and inefficiencies within the healthcare system, endangering vulnerable populations and contradicting previous achievements in maternal health.
In Harare, Zimbabwe, first-time mothers like Connie Jowa are facing significant challenges in obtaining Child Health Cards, essential documents that track their infants’ medical histories and vaccinations. These cards, supposed to be free, are mysteriously unavailable in health facilities, prompting mothers to seek alternative means to acquire them, often through illicit payments. This issue highlights serious deficiencies within the health care system, exacerbating the plight of vulnerable populations.
Reports indicate that Child Health Cards have been lacking in hospitals and clinics since July 2024, despite official claims of adequate production. Consequently, a shadow market has developed, where clinic staff sell these vital documents to desperate mothers for approximately US$5, thereby financially exploiting families that are already struggling.
Throughout this process, many mothers are forced to keep track of their infant’s medical data on scraps of paper, revealing systemic failures. With over 3,000 babies born monthly in Harare’s council clinics alone, the absence of proper documentation leads to repeated inquiries lacking historical context during clinic visits. Health workers, such as nurse aides, contribute to this shadow market by requesting “skillful” payments from mothers seeking cards, thereby reinforcing corruption within health services.
Prosper Chonzi, the City of Harare’s director of health, acknowledged the erratic supply of cards, indicating that corrupt practices may be occurring among clinic personnel who are capitalizing on the shortage. This period of card absence coincides with the gradual reintroduction of maternity fees in public hospitals, further complicating access to essential health care.
In the backdrop of increasing corruption and budgetary constraints, it is important to note that the significant achievements, such as reduced maternal mortality rates, are now at risk. The erosion of previously free maternal health services is expected to disproportionately affect women, many of whom face financial pressures related to childbirth already.
Community activist Prudence Hanyani asserts that maternity services should remain free, emphasizing that childbirth is a vital contribution to the nation’s population. Many affected mothers recount their struggles, including Valerie Shangwa, who lacks a proper card for her daughter due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, further complicating her childcare responsibilities.
While Print Flow, a distributor of the Child Health Cards, maintains it supplies only accredited health facilities, no recent government orders have been placed, demonstrating gaps in the supply chain. A representative from the Ministry of Health and Child Care cited inefficiencies and funding deficits as reasons for the shortage, underlining the urgency for reform in resource mobilization and management. As a result, mothers continue to wait for a resolution or feel forced to incur additional costs for essential health services.
The ongoing issues surrounding the unavailability of Child Health Cards in Zimbabwe highlight significant failures in the health care system, including corruption and inefficiency. With mothers compelled to seek illicit means for essential documentation, the welfare of infants hangs in the balance. As budget constraints and reintroduction of fees threaten maternal health services, active measures are necessary to restore integrity and accessibility within the healthcare framework.
Original Source: www.thezimbabwean.co
