Staff Reporter
The Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care and the Thematic Committee on HIV and AIDS conducted a joint induction workshopover the weekend in collaboration with the Parliament of Zimbabwe Trust in Harare.
This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of Members of the 10th Parliament by providing insights into the Ministry of Health and the overall Health and Child Care ecosystem. The workshops are designed to foster legislation that is responsive to the people's needs and grounded in practical experience.
In his welcoming remarks, Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Affairs, Hon. Ezra Chadzamira, highlighted the country's key achievements through robust government policies.
“Through the prudent policies and tireless efforts of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe has made remarkable progress in its fight against HIV/AIDS. We have reached the 95-95-95 targets, with 95% of our population knowing their HIV status, 95% of those diagnosed on antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieving viral suppression.
This is a remarkable achievement, and we must now shift our focus to tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes,” he stated.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Tsitsi Gezi, in her keynote address, emphasized the importance of research in advancing the health sector.
“I need not reiterate that research and development (R&D) in the health sector are crucial for advancing medical knowledge, improving patient care, and addressing emerging health challenges. Accordingly, your Committees must ensure that there are strengthened synergies with the higher education sector to foster incisive research that will propel our health sector into the future.
“On that score, I must commend the Government for deciding to construct the University of Zimbabwe Quinary Hospital in Mazowe. This hospital is expected to cater for specialist medical care for Zimbabweans and may well be the precursor to medical tourism in Zimbabwe,” she observed.
Ms. Clotilda Chimbwanda, Acting Secretary General of the Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPAZ), shed light on the vital role of HPAZ.
“Our mission is to assist in the promotion of the health of the population of Zimbabwe. We aim to promote the practice of the professions or callings and to foster research into, and develop knowledge of, such professions or callings. Additionally, we regulate, control, and supervise all matters affecting the training of persons in, and the manner of the exercise of, the professions and callings,” she explained.
The workshop served as an essential platform for parliamentarians to understand the current status of the health sector and to strategize on legislative measures that can further improve health services for the people of Zimbabwe.
