Seven babies were stillborn in one night at a major Zimbabwean hospital this week because their mothers did not get adequate medical care due to a nurses’ strike, doctors said on Wednesday, as a dispute over working conditions cripples hospitals. Nurses went on strike countrywide last month demanding U.S. dollar salaries, which the government says it cannot afford. The Zimbabwe’s Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the situation in hospitals was “beyond dire”. Acting Health Minister Amon Murwira, who speaks on behalf of state hospitals, did not answer calls to his mobile phone. Earlier this month Zimbabwe fired top executives of the country’s five biggest state hospitals as part of a restructuring exercise, after health minister Obadiah Moyo was dismissed following corruption allegations.

Source: Standard Digital July 30, 2020 05:01 UTC