Resident doctors and some nurses at Zimbabwe's four
major state hospitals have gone on strike again, citing low salaries and chronic shortages of
drugs.
Dr. Kudzanai Chimedza, incoming president of the Hospital Doctors’ Association,
said doctors are earning some Z$680 a month (in redenominated Zimbabwean dollars), not enough to cover transportation or other costs amid inflation over 11 million percent.
Chimedza said residents and interns are obliged to pursue commercial activities - selling beer or engaging in cross-border trading - simply to make ends meet.
Doctors and nurses say that despite promises from the government that it will look into their grievances, there is no sign any of their problems will be resolved soon.
Doctors and other staff at the main state hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo, the country's second-largest city, have gone on strike repeatedly in the past few years.
Correspondent Thomas Chiripasi told reporter Carole Gombakomba that
doctors at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, say they are struggling for economic
survival.
VOA was unable to obtain comment from Health Minister David Parirenyatwa. Health
Secretary Henry Madzorere of the opposition formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai
said recurring strikes indicate Harare has failed to resolve mounting
health sector woes.
More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...
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