Zimbabwe

ASSET works on the Integrated Primary Health Care platform in Zimbabwe, focusing on the integrated management of non-communicable diseases co-morbid with depression, will be based in Harare, Chitungwiza and Gweru. These urban sites in and around Harare, the capital city, have a total population of 2.4 million. They are served by 74 primary care clinics, of which 44 Clinics providing all services (HIV, Maternal Child Health, Communicable & Non communicable disease, immunization), and 30 Clinics provide communicable and non-communicable disease care, excluding HIV. 80% of attendees are female. The clinics are staffed by a total of 3600 nurses and 304 lay health workers. The lay health workers are responsible for delivering the Friendship Bench’ evidence-based brief psychological intervention for depression, which is currently being scaled up across the three municipalities with funding from Canada Grand Challenges.

There are out-of-pocket payments required for some primary care services and medication, although Friendship Bench, and medication for the treatment of psychiatric disorders are free. Some patients may be able to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs if they have occupational medical insurance.