logo
Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support

Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support

Zawya18-05-2025

Zimbabwe looks forward to revamping its health infrastructure, technological tools, and skills development following a new five-year plan for national laboratories.
In a major step towards strengthening laboratory systems across the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), with funding from the World Bank, supported Zimbabwe in the successful revision of its National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025–2030).
The plan was developed at a multi-stakeholder workshop held from 10 to 24 March 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
'Laboratory services are the backbone of any resilient healthcare system, providing essential support for accurate diagnosis, disease surveillance, and effective treatment,' said Donewell Bangure, Senior Epidemiologist coordinating Africa CDC's Quality Management Systems Program. A robust Laboratory Strategic Plan is a national blueprint for the organization, strengthening, and sustainability of laboratory services, he said.
'It ensures alignment with public health priorities and facilitates efficient resource allocation, capacity building, and partnerships. For Zimbabwe, and by extension the African continent, the updated plan represents a renewed commitment to building resilient health systems capable of addressing both current and emerging public health threats,' Bangure added.
Zimbabwe's previous National Laboratory Strategic Plan expired in 2021, and recognizing the urgency to modernize the country's laboratory framework, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) partnered with Africa CDC to lead the revision process.
Zimbabwe's new National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025–2030) sets out to strengthen the country's laboratory systems by improving infrastructure, staffing, quality, and digital systems. Key goals include expanding Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to 80% of facilities, accrediting central, provincial, and district laboratories, and securing at least 70% of required funding. The plan, led by the Ministry of Health with support from Africa CDC, introduces new elements such as a One Health approach, public-private partnerships, and the use of AI and digital tools. It replaces the expired 2021 plan with a broader, more coordinated strategy to respond to current and future public health threats.
The new plan will help Zimbabwe meet its public health and epidemiological needs, clinical health, and the provision of safe blood and blood products, national reference laboratory function, quality assurance, teaching, and research.
Experts from across Africa praised Zimbabwe's revised plan for its strategic scope, alignment with international standards, and potential to drive investment in resilient laboratory systems.
'The development of Zimbabwe's Laboratory Strategic Plan embraced the One Health approach, which recognizes the vital connection between human, animal, and environmental health,' said Dr. Eugene Bwalya, a renowned veterinary surgeon from the University of Zambia. 'Strengthening lab services across these sectors is essential for comprehensive public health preparedness and response.'
Dr. Nyambura Moremi, Director of the National Public Health Laboratory in Tanzania, added, 'This plan is a model for how African countries can build resilient laboratory systems aligned with international standards.'
Dr. Talkmore Maruta, Director of Programs at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), emphasized, 'Strategic plans like Zimbabwe's are critical for attracting investment and guiding sustainable laboratory development.'
Dr. Patrick Mateta, past Vice President of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), warned, 'Without clear national roadmaps, countries risk fragmented systems that cannot respond effectively to health threats.'
Echoing this, Dr. Kingsley Odiabara, former Director of Laboratory Services in Nigeria, stated, 'A functional lab system is the bedrock of health security. Zimbabwe's plan shows the kind of leadership the continent urgently needs.'
Given the dynamic nature of public health challenges, it is critical that Member States maintain updated and responsive laboratory strategic plans, Bangure explained. He said Africa CDC is committed to supporting Member States like Zimbabwe to ensure their laboratory networks are well-prepared for the future. A strong laboratory system is essential not just for national health security, but for the collective resilience of the entire African continent.
'We are sincerely grateful to Africa CDC for its technical and financial support in revising Zimbabwe's National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan. This noble gesture has set a clear path for strengthening our laboratory services and improving healthcare delivery for all Zimbabweans,' said Dr. Raiva Simbi, Director of Laboratory Services at the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Africa CDC's support to Zimbabwe is part of a broader continental initiative to strengthen laboratory systems. Similar assistance has already been extended to Somalia, Seychelles, and Malawi, each of which now boasts updated Laboratory Strategic Plans through Africa CDC's support. This demonstrates Africa CDC's unwavering commitment to elevating public health infrastructure across Africa, building resilience against infectious diseases, and achieving health security for all.
'As Africa continues to face dynamic health challenges, from pandemics to antimicrobial resistance, the significance of strategic, well-coordinated laboratory systems cannot be overstated,' said Bangure. The successful revision of Zimbabwe's Laboratory Strategic Plan is a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and investment in public health systems.
Updated roadmaps are expected to guide Zimbabwe and other Member States to be better equipped to deliver timely, accurate, and quality laboratory services, safeguarding the health of millions across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The World Health Organization (WHO) Donates Mobile Water Testing Kits to Boost Angola's Water Safety Monitoring
The World Health Organization (WHO) Donates Mobile Water Testing Kits to Boost Angola's Water Safety Monitoring

Zawya

time13 hours ago

  • Zawya

The World Health Organization (WHO) Donates Mobile Water Testing Kits to Boost Angola's Water Safety Monitoring

The World Health Organization (WHO) today donated three mobile water quality testing kits to the Ministry of Health, through the Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), to strengthen Angola's capacity to monitor and respond to waterborne disease risks—especially during health emergencies such as the ongoing cholera outbreak. These mobile kits allow for on-the-spot analysis of water sources, enabling health teams to detect issues such as pH levels, chlorine concentration, turbidity, and other key indicators of water safety—without the delays caused by transporting samples to laboratories. 'In provinces like Lunda Norte, we've faced serious challenges collecting and transporting water samples from remote communities,' said Alex Freeman, a WASH and Health logistics specialist deployed to Angola with the support of the WHO Nairobi AFRO Emergency Hub 'Now, with these mobile kits, we can conduct accurate tests immediately at the point of collection, enabling faster decision-making and a more agile public health response.' As part of the rollout, nine INIS staff members were trained on the use of the mobile kits, with additional training planned for personnel from other sectors in the coming weeks. The testing kits are also a practical tool for routine monitoring in hospital settings, helping ensure safe water for patients and health workers. As part of WHO's mandate to support water quality surveillance, the kits represent an important operational boost for both preventive health efforts and outbreak response. 'This is a great example of collaboration and targeted support,' said Simão Nhassengo, a WASH specialist deployed to Angola with the support of the government of the Netherlands. 'These kits will play an important role in monitoring water safety across Angola and ultimately help prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera.' The initiative was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the European Union through European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and the Embassy of the Netherlands, whose support has also enabled technical deployments to strengthen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) capacity across the country. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - Angola.

The Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) Delegation Meets Health Principal Secretary to Advance Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
The Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) Delegation Meets Health Principal Secretary to Advance Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Zawya

time18 hours ago

  • Zawya

The Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) Delegation Meets Health Principal Secretary to Advance Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

The Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) today met with Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga to discuss strengthening local production of health products. Led by FKPM Chairman Vimal Shah, the delegation briefed the PS on their ongoing collaboration with the Division of Health Products and Technology. They presented findings from their Capacity Assessment Report and outlined strategies to boost domestic manufacturing of medical products. "The government is prioritizing local manufacturing of health products," Dr. Oluga stated during the meeting. He emphasized that this initiative would help secure Kenya's supply of essential medical commodities. The discussions focused on practical measures to develop Kenya's pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, aligning with national health security objectives. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Kenya: Ministry of Health and Aga Khan University Hospital Strengthen Dialogue on Strategic Health Collaboration
Kenya: Ministry of Health and Aga Khan University Hospital Strengthen Dialogue on Strategic Health Collaboration

Zawya

time18 hours ago

  • Zawya

Kenya: Ministry of Health and Aga Khan University Hospital Strengthen Dialogue on Strategic Health Collaboration

The Ministry of Health is advancing discussions with Aga Khan University Hospital on potential collaboration in key areas including medical education, research, and capacity building for county health personnel in the effective utilisation of medical equipment. This was the focus of a meeting held today at Afya House, Nairobi, where the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr Ouma Oluga, hosted the Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan University Hospital, Dr Rashid Khalani. Dr Oluga commended the institution for its continued support to the national health system, noting its role in complementing government efforts to improve healthcare delivery. 'If we have a united effort, we build a better healthcare system that serves our people effectively and efficiently,' stated Dr Oluga. The meeting also explored the introduction of a unified digital yellow fever certification card to improve verification processes and facilitate access to travel-related services. Also present was the Director of Partnerships at Aga Khan University Hospital, Ms Pauline Ngatia. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store