Golden Jubilee For Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference medical officers, other health professionals and general staff. The Government is also rolling out interventions to improve service delivery within the country's health sector. The 2009 – 2013 National Health Strategy for the country sought to reverse the decline in the performance of the country's health delivery system, especially as it impacted on universal access to primary health care by vulnerable populations. The goals of the plan included tackling levels of health financing and thus improving access to basic medical equipment and essential medicines; taking steps Mr. Noel Muhlophe, to attract and retain health workers in the public technician Health Comm health sector; and laying the foundations for an investment policy to fund the rehabilitation and development of the health services infrastructure. Current national policy is aimed at providing free health services for pregnant and lactating women. However, this initiative has been rather difficult to implement because of lack of the financial means. User fees is also a challenge but it would provide a significant income for many health facilities, enabling them to provide at least the minimum of services. Challenges to Government Support Our institutions used to receive regular grants from the Government. However, since 2007 these grants have been reduced rather substantially and even ceased in most instances. The increase in national programmes has resulted in already stretched staff getting more responsibilities. At times there is no commensurate change in remuneration with the increased duties. Government also assists health institutions with medicine supply through its pharmaceutical company National Pharmacy. However National Pharmacy is often not able to meet the drug requirements of the Hospitals both in terms of quantity and armamentarium. The same applies to manpower. The Ministry of Health supports Mission Health institutions with seconded staff but the number of staff members received is usually less than what is required. This is at all levels of professionals, both qualified and unqualified personnel. Support is also lagging in terms of staff development and response to training needs. Donor Assistance to Catholic Health Institutions For many years mission health institutions have depended on the Church abroad for resources. From a historical perspective, the Medical Missionaries relieved a 55