The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has said the abrupt termination of employment which has left thousands of people without jobs will seriously affect the health of the affected people and their families as most of them will not be able to continue on medical aid.
BY SILENCE CHARUMBIRA
CWGH executive director Itai Rusike said massive lay-offs without any financial packages or psychological support system were likely to trigger serious health consequences, in addition to limiting access of the affected workers and their dependants to health services especially in view of the fact that Zimbabwe did not have proper social safety nets.
“Among those that have been offloaded are people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and HIV, and they stand to automatically lose their medical aid cover as they are rendered incapable of paying for monthly subscriptions,” Rusike said.
“With no prior warning to having their source of income abruptly cut, there has been no time for them to make alternative arrangements among the myriad of things they must adjust to, and the CWGH wonders how the [former] workers will pay for health care and other essential services.”
He said laid-off workers on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) may not be able to access the quality health services they used to enjoy, a development that would result in serious health complications or even death.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Rusike said the abrupt loss of income would also compromise adherence to medication for workers and dependants on chronic care, including those on ART, as they may be forced to relocate to their rural homes where their changed circumstances may limit their travel to places where they used to get their allocations.
“It should be emphasised that adherence to ART is essential for maximising individual treatment outcomes, minimising complications, and preventing the development of drug resistance,” he said.
“Unexpected retrenchment is known to negatively affect a person’s confidence, self-worth and self-esteem. Those that have lost their jobs may experience difficulty adjusting to a new and unfamiliar situation of redundancy, and it can severely affect a person’s mental health causing depression, stress and anxiety.”
Rusike also said there were fears that some dependants would be transferred to poorer or rural schools, while others would drop out of school completely due to the changed financial circumstances, thereby shattering their hopes for a better future.
CWGH is a network of civic/community-based organisations that aim to collectively enhance community participation in heath in the country while promoting governance, social accountability and the social determinants of health.