Zimbabwe News

WHO and ESPEN conduct technical mission to strengthen Schistosomiasis medicine manag...

Harare - World Health Organization (WHO)'s Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), through the Expanded Special Project for the Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN), conducted a joint technical mission to Zimbabwe from 7-11 July 2025. The mission, conducted in collaboration with the pharmaceutical donor Merck and the WHO Country Office in Zimbabwe, aimed to strengthen national supply chain systems related to the management of donated Praziquantel (PZQ), a critical medicine used in the treatment and elimination of schistosomiasis commonly known as bilharzia.

Zimbabwe undertakes second Joint External Evaluation to strengthen National Health S...

Harare — From 29 June to 4 July 2025, Zimbabwe conducted its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) to assess the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats under the International Health Regulations (2005). The JEE, coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) with support from WHO and partners, marks a critical milestone in strengthening Zimbabwe’s public health emergency preparedness and response systems.

Immunization outreach gains ground in Zimbabwe

Kadoma - Nine-year-old Mavis** from rural Sanyati was looking forward to a joyful December holiday, filled with games and laughter with her siblings. But those plans came to an abrupt halt when she woke up one morning unable to walk.

Panicked and unsure of what to do, her family turned to their faith, seeking a miracle at a local church. After two weeks of fervent prayers but no improvement, church leaders advised her parents to seek medical help.

Zimbabwe strengthens polio surveillance with new environmental laboratory

Harare - Zimbabwe has bolstered its ability to detect and respond to poliovirus outbreaks with the commissioning a state-of-the-art Environmental Surveillance (ES) laboratory unit within the National Polio Laboratory. This significant milestone, which was marked by an official commissioning ceremony, enables the country to test wastewater for poliovirus, allowing for early detection of the virus and allowing timely response to potential outbreaks.

Boosting Africa's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

Harare - The World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting an important meeting in Zimbabwe from January 28 to 31, 2025, to discuss how to better prepare for flu pandemics. This Regional Coordination Meeting for the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework: Partnership Contribution High-Level Implementation Plan III (HLIP III) will bring together key representatives from 14 African countries, including Angola, Chad, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, South Africa, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.