A group of doctors in Zimbabwe have filed a case against the government over lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for doctors helping to combat coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In a report by The Guardian, the Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) complains that the authorities have failed to provide PPEs for health workers who are at the front lines of the country’s battle against the disease. The group has warned that such failure will lead to many medical practitioners dying—making Zimbabwe’s already problematic health sector collapse.
READ ALSO: PH hospital uses plastics, garbage bags as COVID-19 protection due to supply shortage
According to their court application, ZADHR seeks to compel the government to address the shortage of PPEs to avoid losing many lives in the country. The group added that around 1,500 hospital staff require at least three face masks daily.
Zimbabwe has recorded its first case back in March. As of April 9, only 316 suspected cases had been tested for the virus. The country has so far recorded 10 positive cases, but with testing kits unavailable, both residents and health workers are currently not being tested despite having symptoms.
The frustration of healthcare workers about the system of the country has pushed doctors and nurses to go on strike two weeks ago to protest the shortage of PPEs. The hospitals have entered emergency mode as only doctors with their own transport or live near the hospitals were the only ones reporting for duty.
ZADHR added that even with the donation received from Jack Ma foundation, the equipment are still not enough for the medical practitioners.
