London's Independent Examines Zimbabwe's Health System, Burden of HIV/AIDS

London's Independent on Wednesday examined Zimbabwe's national health system, which once was the "envy of other African countries" but now is "something to be ashamed of" after 20 years of "mismanagement, neglect and theft." The "decline" in the country's health sector also coincides with a "rapid rise" in Zimbabwe's HIV prevalence rate, according to the Independent. A recent UNICEF report said that at least one out of every four people in the country is living with HIV/AIDS. Although the government has imposed a 6% levy on income to raise funds to fight HIV/AIDS, it is "not clear where this money is going," the Independent reports. "People have lost faith in the system," an unnamed doctor said, adding, "They think: Why spend money on a sub-standard, ineffective service? Now, if they really want to be cured, they go to a witch doctor" (Selva, Independent, 3/30). The complete article is available online.

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