Charity Nkomo and Dalyn Chigwizura
For many students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), access to healthcare is a vital safety net.
With busy schedules and tight budgets, having medical aid should be a reliable way to ensure they can get treatment when they need it.
However, a growing number of students are raising concerns over the university’s medical aid program, which, despite being paid for, has yet to provide the promised benefits.
Lebo Moyo, a second-year Journalism and Media Studies major, has become a vocal advocate for better health services on campus.
“Having medical aid and proper health services is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” she explained, sitting outside the NUST clinic.
“But right now, it’s like we’re paying for something that doesn’t exist. It makes accessing healthcare more difficult, especially for students like us who don’t have extra money for private hospitals,” she said.
For students like Lebo, the stakes are high. The university clinic, while open, often refers students to larger government hospitals for treatment. Without their medical aid cards, which are still pending issuance, students are left to cover medical expenses themselves.
However, students continue to make their medical aid contributions which are part of fees paid every semester.
An Applied Mathematics student who only identified himself as Mthabisi recounted his frustrating experience following a health event which left him at the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH).
“I was in pain, but without my medical aid, I had to wait longer to be seen,” he said. “It’s scary to think what could happen in a real emergency.”
Another student, Chido Ndlovu, a second-year Accounting student says the issue hit close to home when she faced eye problems last semester.
“The clinic asked for my medical aid card, but it hadn’t been issued yet,” she shared. “They sent me to UBH, but I couldn’t afford to go. Instead, I just got some pills that didn’t help. It’s frustrating knowing that I’ve paid for medical aid, but I still can’t access the care I need,” said the visibly frustrated student.
Despite the challenges, students like Chido remain hopeful that their concerns will lead to action.
“We’re not asking for anything extra, just what was promised to us,” she said. “Having medical aid would make a huge difference. We wouldn’t have to worry about where the money for treatment will come from.”
Chido Ndlovu, a second-year-Accounting student
The university introduced the medical aid program to ensure students had access to affordable healthcare. However, the delay in issuing the cards and the perceived inadequacies in campus health services have left many feeling overlooked.
One anonymous student echoed these sentiments, saying, “Medical aid is our backup plan. Without it, we have no choice but to delay treatment or find other ways to pay. It’s not just about comfort, it’s about our health and well-being.”
While students understand the challenges the university might face, they are calling on the administration to address the issue urgently. They hope their voices will lead to improved services and the timely distribution of medical aid cards, ensuring that no student has to choose between their health and their education.
For now, students like Lebo continue to push for change, believing that their combined efforts will make a difference in the long run. “We just want to feel secure, knowing that if we need help, it’s there,” she said.