Health and Child Care Minister, Dr David Parirenyatwa has appointed a new Health Services Board amid calls for the board to work towards promoting ease of doing business in the health sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the board in Harare yesterday, Parirenyatwa urged the newly appointed board to start work as soon as possible since the department had been functioning for four weeks with no board.
“I think we have a very powerful, strong board which is alert and will give its best which we expect. I must emphasize that there is lot to be looked up at from you, not only by stakeholders but right up to the Presidency.
“We would like to see this board work, the ease of doing business and speed. We don’t want to see things not moving because they are still with the board, we want prompt decisions and that will take us far,
“Your own stakeholders will be expecting that and they will be critiquing you but positively. We don’t want to waste much of your time, as I leave here you just have to hold a board meeting and start work because we have had four weeks without a board and that is not good ” said Parirenyatwa.
Parirenyatwa emphasized that the board will be an executive board and not an advisory one with a full time executive chairperson.
Newly appointed Chairperson of the board, Dr Paulinus Ncube Sikhosana emphasized the importance of communication between the board and stakeholders.
“There is the issue of communication, I think there needs to be dialogue between the board and stakeholders. Some of the misconceptions arise from the fact that people cannot distinguish the work of the health services board and the responsibilities of the Ministry of Health,
“If we have an effective communication or dialogue with our stakeholders some of these issues can be resolved. A lot has been done in terms of grading of staff, its not a perfect world there obviously be areas that will not be well addressed. We will identify those and remedy them together with our stakeholders,” said Sikhosana.
Other board members includes,Professor Auxillia Chideme-Munodawafa (Vice Chairperson), Sefelipelo Bhebhe, Dr Stanley Mungofa, Mercy Gwaunza and Memory Nguwi.
