Zambia introduces free health care

KAFUE – Peter Chibize wiped the dust off a bench with a handkerchief and waited, agonising over how he would convince the doctor to give him free treatment for his chest pains, headache and bad cough.

He had delayed his visit to the Nangongwe clinic in southern Zambia because he could not pay medical fees until excruciating pain finally forced him to make the 20km walk from his Shamatuli village. “Next,” a nurse shouted from the consultation room and the 67-year-old nervously rose.Soon he was beaming when he was told that he did not have to pay for his treatment.Zambia scrapped health fees on Saturday, one of the first benefits to flow from debt relief granted to African countries last year by the G8 group of wealthy nations.”It was like a dream to me,” Chibize said.”Not to pay anything when you visit a clinic is amazing.”Many poor people across Zambia often die because they cannot afford health care and are forced to resort to ineffectual traditional remedies.Fees range between US$5 and US$10 but are still too costly for most Zambians – 65 per cent of whom live below the World Bank poverty threshold of US$1 a day.- Nampa-Reuters”Next,” a nurse shouted from the consultation room and the 67-year-old nervously rose.Soon he was beaming when he was told that he did not have to pay for his treatment.Zambia scrapped health fees on Saturday, one of the first benefits to flow from debt relief granted to African countries last year by the G8 group of wealthy nations.”It was like a dream to me,” Chibize said.”Not to pay anything when you visit a clinic is amazing.”Many poor people across Zambia often die because they cannot afford health care and are forced to resort to ineffectual traditional remedies.Fees range between US$5 and US$10 but are still too costly for most Zambians – 65 per cent of whom live below the World Bank poverty threshold of US$1 a day.- Nampa-Reuters