As poverty woes bite, women in small-scale mining communities in Bindura, Mashonaland Central have ventured into prostitution for survival as the sector has been ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
iHarare has established that many teen mothers in mining areas, especially in Foothill and Benridge have resorted to se_x work after they were excluded from government-run social safety net programmes.
The Institute for Young Women’s Development representative Constance Mushayi during a virtual meeting convened by Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust (GGZT) said that,
“Women in small-scale artisanal mining communities are now engaging in se_x work due to Covid-19 induced poverty. The challenge is that we have more teen mothers who were relying on mining activities but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector is underperforming.”
“The situation has been worsened by the fact that these teen mothers have been excluded from social safety net programmes by the government and they have remained vulnerable to economic woes.”
Mushayi argued that Covid-19 has negatively affected people’s livelihoods. Due to lack of transport and movement restrictions, a majority of people who rely on selling on goods have not been able to restock their businesses while those employed in mines have been told to go on forced leave. “Covid-19 has led to significant loss of income in areas such as Bindura because local business is supported by mining activities. The demolition of the flea markets has also worsened the plight of over 400 families who rely on selling their goods to miners.”
“Mines have downsized due to Covid-19 pandemic. Artisanal mining is a major source of employment in Mashonaland Central with women constituting around 30 to 50% of the total workforce,” says Mushayi.
Mushayi called on the government to support the women with social safety nets especially at a dire time like this.
Covid-19 had also led to the increase of domestic violence, corruption, and crime in Zimbabwe.
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Medicare plans with dental, Medicare dental vision hearing, Medicare Advantage dental coverage, Medicare vision coverage, Medicare hearing aid coverage
Many people are surprised to learn that Medicare does not cover every health need they expected.
Dental, vision, and hearing benefits are among the most searched Medicare topics because these services can become expensive.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer dental, vision, and hearing benefits, but coverage varies widely.
Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental care such as cleanings, fillings, dentures, and most tooth extractions.
Some limited dental services may be covered only when connected to certain medical procedures, but routine dental care is usually not covered in the same way.
That is why many people compare Medicare Advantage plans or standalone dental coverage.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may include dental benefits.
These may include:
Cleanings
X-rays
Exams
Fillings
Extractions
Dentures
Crowns
Root canals
But the details matter.
Check:
Annual maximum
Copays
Covered procedures
Network dentists
Waiting periods
Frequency limits
Prior authorization
Out-of-network rules
A plan may advertise dental coverage but still limit major services.
Vision coverage may include:
Routine eye exams
Eyeglass allowance
Contact lens allowance
Discounts
Glaucoma screening
Diabetic eye exam coverage
Medical eye care and routine vision benefits are not always the same.
Check whether your eye doctor accepts the plan.
Hearing benefits may include:
Hearing exams
Hearing aid allowance
Fitting support
Discounts
Copays
Network provider access
Hearing aids can be expensive, so read the plan’s benefit details carefully.
Dental, vision, and hearing benefits are valuable, but they should not be the only factor.
Before enrolling, also check:
Doctors
Hospitals
Prescriptions
Specialist access
Out-of-pocket maximum
Referrals
Prior authorization
Travel coverage
Premium
Drug coverage
A plan with strong dental benefits may not be best if your doctors or medications are not covered.
Medicare Advantage plans are private plans that provide Part A and Part B benefits and may offer extra benefits that Original Medicare does not.
Extra benefits vary by county and plan. Always compare the Evidence of Coverage.
Ask:
What dental services are covered?
Is there an annual dental maximum?
Are crowns or dentures covered?
Is my dentist in network?
How much is the eyeglass allowance?
Are hearing aids covered?
Which hearing aid brands are included?
Are referrals required?
Are my prescriptions covered?
Medicare plans with dental, vision, and hearing benefits can be helpful, especially for seniors who expect routine care costs.
But benefits vary widely.
Read the fine print before enrolling. A good Medicare plan should cover your medical needs first and extra benefits second.
