Conkling M; AcademyHealth. Meeting (2005 : Boston, Mass.).
Abstr AcademyHealth Meet. 2005; 22: abstract no. 3521.
School of Rural Public health, Health Policy and Management, 3000 Briarcrest, Suite 300, Bryan, TX 77802 Tel. 979-458-3031 Fax
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Zimbabwe has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS with up to 25 percent of the population from 18-46 years are infected with the virus. Approximately 3800 people die every week of AIDS. The life expectancy for males has fallen to 36 years. Record inflation and unemployment fuel the epidemic. This study was undertaken to explore the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the provision of health services in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe at this juncture. The goals of the study were to provide a better understanding of the reasons and resources that are implemented by NGOs to carry out their mandates. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative research design with 45 minute face to face, taped interviews was employed. An interview protocol was designed and followed in each of the interviews. Questions varied slightly depending on the type of organization interviewed, i.e. health service delivery or health policy/donor. The interview was based on questions concerning organization background and operational information, resource dependencies, accountability and inter-relationships with other NGOs in the city. POPULATION STUDIED: Fifteen non-profit, health delivery organizations in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in July and August of 2004 and 5 non-profit health policy organizations that supported some of the Bulawayo NGOs in Harare, Zimbabwe in August 2004. The people who were interviewed held upper administration positions in the organization they represented. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Small locally founded NGOs struggle to find resources and training to build capacity. All organizations, large, small, local and international, are involved in home based care. The need is so extreme that all other projects have been put on hold. A desire to coordinate services and create some form of communication among the NGOs serving Bulawayo, in order to work effectively and efficiently among the infected and the affected, are key responses to questions of NGO inter-relationships. Standards for home based care have been identified nationally and training has begun to implement those standards. Anti-retrovirals are being introduced in Zimbabwe for the first time to individuals who have a t-cell count below 200. The one NGO that has historically dealt with TB is struggling to keep one office in Zimbabwe open, the one in Bulawayo. CONCLUSIONS: Health services are being delivered in households throughout Zimbabwe. The government health service system cannot respond to the demand for even the most basic medicines for HIV/AIDS patients. Expertise and manpower are limited but do exist, as does the knowledge of how to adequately deal with the HIV/AIDS crisis. While donor NGOs are no longer able to work in Zimbabwe, support and new strategies do exist, particular in the volunteer sector. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY OR PRACTICE: Among Zimbabwe NGOs the struggle to communicate, share information and continue working is dependent on consensus building. Donor NGOs are asked to contribute to teaching proposal writing, report writing skills, and professional development. Volunteers entering the country for short periods of time are a possible option considering the current economic and political crisis.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Delivery of Health Care
- Demography
- Government Agencies
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Health
- Health Planning
- Health Services
- Humans
- Male
- Organizations
- Organizations, Nonprofit
- Population
- Public Policy
- Research
- United States
- Virus Diseases
- Zimbabwe
- education
- organization & administration
- hsrmtgs
UI: 103622984
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