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Chitungwiza strike: Health time bomb looms

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A HEALTH time bomb is looming in Chitungwiza following a week-long strike which has crippled service delivery.

A HEALTH time bomb is looming in Chitungwiza following a week-long strike which has crippled service delivery in the dormitory town with a population of over a million people.

Phyllis Mbanje

Critical areas like garbage collection and clinics have not been operating at full throttle and bins are overflowing with filth.

Burst sewage pipes were also not being attended to as workers press on with their demands to be paid outstanding salaries for the past 13 months amounting to over $10 million.

Most council clinics were yesterday operating with skeleton staff with many patients being sent back home unattended.

At Zengeza clinic, the health facility was deserted and only a few patients could be seen milling around the premises.

“We brought a sick relative in the morning, but he is still to be attended to, we are not sure why it is taking so long,” a visibly distraught woman said.

The woman from Zengeza 4 said while the workers had a right to be paid, critical staff like nurses should be spared.

A lot of concern has been raised especially for people on antiretroviral drugs who collect their free supply from council clinics.

Missing a single dose can result in the patient developing resistance and other complications which might not be easily reversible.

Director of The Aids and Arts Foundation (TAAF) Emmanuel Gasa said it was sad that the government seemed to have no backup plan when emergencies occur.

“This is the reason why people are now losing trust and faith in our health delivery system because there are no assurances and yet the preserving people’s lives should take precedence,” he said.

At the council offices a few nurses could be seen among the other striking workers who spent the day sitting around the premises.

On being approached one of the nurses refused to comment but could be heard mumbling that she also deserved to be paid for services rendered.

Other employees said they were determined to continue with the strike if their issues were not addressed.

“Yesterday [Monday] they brought anti-riot police, but what they are failing to understand is that we are not rowdy nor are we violent people, we just want our money,” another male employee said.

Meanwhile, a few metres from the municipal offices, there were burst sewage pipes and a pungent smell permeated the vicinity. Some of the dirty water could be seen flowing into nearby maize fields.

The scenario was the same in most streets and residents have seemingly adjusted to the situation as they went about their business oblivious of the health hazard right on their doorsteps.

Little children could be seen playing near the puddles of sewage water while others were busy rummaging in the uncollected garbage.

Both Chitungwiza mayor Phillip Mutoti and the Town Clerk Ephraim Katsina could not be reached for comment. But they have previously said ratepayers owed council $27 million in unpaid bills making it difficult to pay workers.