Tendayi Sengwe, the head of communication at ICRC said they decided to provide the financial assistance after noting that some clinics were short of essential drugs.“Without enough medication at polyclinics, lives of many people will be at a risk because these clinics are very affordable compared to private hospitals,” he said. “We believe that the drugs we are supplying will go a long way in improving people’s health.“We are supplying 75% of drugs at the polyclinics and the remainder is being supplied by Natpharm and the city’s health department.”Infrastructure at most clinics is dilapidated owing to years of neglect and they also have inadequate machinery.ICRC said it is currently refurbishing maternity wards and providing baby warmers in which to keep babies born prematurely as well as furniture.“We have completed the installation of incinerators in all the 12 clinics and to improve hygiene at clinics we are also into borehole drilling,” he said.Although Harare council spokesperson Leslie Gwindi was reluctant to discuss the partnership, he said the ICRC has been working with the local authority for some time.The ICRC started giving support to Harare clinics in 2008 when it supplied all the medication. Sengwe said as the economic situation in the country improves, the responsibility will be handed back to council.Some of the clinics which are benefiting include Mabvuku, Highfield, Mbare, Rutsanana and Budiriro.
