Maputo, 31 Mar (AIM) – Mozambican health authorities reported the arrest of six health professionals for alleged involvement in the theft of medicines and medical-surgical material in the districts of Muembe and Mandimba, in the northern province of Niassa.
Last January, authorities reported the theft of antimalarial medicines worth 42 million meticais (around 657 thousand dollars, at current exchange rates) from the central medical warehouses of the National Health Service, in the province of Maputo.
According to Cássimo Abudo, administrator of the Muembe district, antimalarial medicines are the most stolen medicine in the district. He explained that the detainees in question sold the stolen medicines to private pharmacies.
“They were also involved in stealing blood collection bags, which forced the introduction of reinforced security measures in health units in the district,” he said.
The Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, declared “zero tolerance” to the theft of medicines. In January, a pharmacist was sentenced to 10 months in prison for stealing medicines in the central province of Sofala.
Meanwhile, the Association of United Health Professionals (APSUSM) threatened to intensify its strike, which began on January 16. The president of APSUSM, Anselmo Muchave, quoted in Tuesday’s edition of the independent daily “O Pais”, stated that the government is not complying with the recommendations emerging from negotiations with the strikers, and that the situation of the National Health Service is “catastrophic”.
Muchave alleged that a “silent genocide” is taking place in health facilities. Since the start of the strike, 1,872 deaths have been recorded, he said, caused by a lack of medicines and medical supplies and lack of care in health units.
Muchave has made such claims frequently, but no one else has seen large numbers of deaths in health facilities.
APSUSM demands the payment of the end-of-year bonus (known as the 13th month because it is equivalent to the payment of an extra month of the base salary) and better working conditions in hospitals.
“APSUSM will not back down,” declared Muchave. “The fight for life, dignity and health rights does not allow us to allow the government to neglect the National Health Service and put the lives of Mozambicans at risk.”
Muchave claims that APSUSM represents 65,000 health workers, but there is no sign that such a large number of people have ever supported APSUSM’s strike calls.
He warned that if the government does not reach an agreement with APSUSM, the next phase of the strike will completely paralyze health units.
(AIM)
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