Breaking Barriers: Dr. Natsayi Mujuru’s Commitment to Enhancing Palliative Care Access in Zimbabwe
In our final blog series on the PG- Dip Palliative Medicine offered by UCT, we spoke to Bubbly Zimbabwean-born family physician Dr Natsayi Mujuru, who completed her PG Dip in 2019 and is currently completing her MPhil. She is an esteemed physician based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, working in a hospice and community-based setting. We sat down to ask her about her experience completing the diploma and its impact on her community.
Why did you decide to do the PG DIP course?
My interest in palliative care dates back to my experience during my master’s in Family Medicine, where I had a brief yet impactful encounter with the topic of palliative care. This exposure ignited my enthusiasm for a discipline that embraces a holistic patient care approach, mirroring my professional ethos.
Pursuing the PG Dip course was a natural progression for me. Before working at a hospice in Zimbabwe, I had dedicated a year to volunteering there. While working alongside my colleagues, I observed the value they attributed to the diploma, particularly those based in Harare. However, in Bulawayo, where I worked, there needed to be more individuals with palliative care expertise.
Recognizing the potential benefits it could bring to our branch, I felt compelled to undertake the course. It was also an opportunity to enhance the quality of services and my proficiency in palliative care.
How has the course benefited you, your community and your services?
The diploma has had a profound impact on both my personal development and the services provided to the community in Bulawayo.
On a personal level, the emphasis on communication skills within the course has been invaluable, enhancing the relationships I cultivate with my patients, colleagues, and family.
Professionally, I’ve been able to mentor colleagues, elevating the quality of our hospice’s services. Over the past few years, our hospice has initiated training programs for palliative care doctors and other professionals within local hospitals and tertiary hospitals across Zimbabwe.
Why did you decide to do the MPHIL?
Pursuing the MPHIL was a logical progression for me, aligning with my commitment to advancing palliative care in Zimbabwe. Despite the gradual development of palliative care services in the country, there remains a critical need for advocacy at all levels.
Beginning the program in 2023, I recognized the potential of the MPHIL to equip me with the necessary advocacy skills. Specifically, I aim to address issues such as securing coverage for palliative care services through collaboration with medical aids and advocating solutions to the morphine shortage in Zimbabwe. By undertaking the MPHIL, I am better positioned to assume enhanced advocacy roles and drive positive change within the palliative care landscape.
Please share any comments on the challenges and benefits of palliative care in Zimbabwe.
Significant progress has been made in integrating palliative care into the public healthcare system in Zimbabwe, primarily driven by the National policy framework of 2019. Palliative care is now incorporated into various disciplines’ strategic documents, including those of surgeons, obstetricians, and anaesthetists, TB and cancer strategies, nursing curriculums, and national in-service training programmes.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. The shortage of morphine stock remains a pressing issue, limiting access to essential pain relief medication. Additionally, there is a critical need for heightened awareness among healthcare professionals and patients regarding the benefits of hospice care.
The stigma surrounding hospice support still prevails among some individuals, reminding us of the importance of ongoing education and advocacy efforts to promote understanding and acceptance of Palliative care services.
