Online Reporter
Locadia Mavhudzi, Midlands Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is intensifying efforts to strengthen public health surveillance and disease outbreak response by training frontline field epidemiologists — a move aimed at bolstering national health security and improving early detection of public health threats.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of recurring health challenges, including outbreaks of cholera, measles, typhoid and other communicable diseases, which have exposed gaps in early detection, reporting and rapid response, particularly at district and community levels.
Field epidemiology is critical in identifying, investigating and responding to disease outbreaks in real time, enabling health authorities to curb the spread of infections, save lives and guide evidence-based policy and resource allocation.
A total of 56 healthcare workers from Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces recently graduated as frontline epidemiologists, marking a significant step in building capacity at the grassroots level.
In a speech read on his behalf by Midlands Provincial Medical Director, Dr Mary Muchekeza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, said the graduates are now equipped with essential skills to strengthen disease surveillance and response systems nationwide.
“The impact of this programme is already evident through improved surveillance systems, as demonstrated by case studies from Chivi, Gwanda, Maphisa and Beitbridge district hospitals. These are areas where public health emergencies would previously take a long time to detect and respond to, but the presence of trained frontline epidemiologists has significantly improved response times,” said Dr Maunganidze.
Zimbabwe’s frontline training programme forms part of the broader Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), implemented in collaboration with development partners to strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory systems and emergency preparedness.
The programme emphasises practical, field-based training in disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, data analysis and risk communication — equipping healthcare workers to operate effectively in real-world settings rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge.
Health experts say strengthening epidemiology capacity at the grassroots level is key to achieving the country’s Universal Health Coverage targets and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises preventive healthcare and health system resilience.
Dr Maunganidze noted that recent outbreaks of cholera and measles highlight the urgent need for a competent, proactive and well-trained health workforce capable of detecting outbreaks early and co-ordinating swift interventions.
He stressed that investing in human capital remains central to Government’s strategy of building a resilient health system capable of responding to both emerging and re-emerging public health threats.
Insiza District Nursing Officer, Sister Monica Miriam Mbawa, expressed appreciation to the Global Fund for providing technical support to frontline healthcare workers, particularly those operating in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.
“The support we have received will strengthen our ability to respond to disease outbreaks and move closer to achieving universal health coverage,” she said.
