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Rejoice Makoni Herald Correspondent
Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Education 5.0 aimed at providing home-grown heritage-based solutions in order to churn out students capable of resolving local challenges.
This was said by Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira.
The remarks were made on his behalf by chief director, Human Capital planning and skills development in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Professor Norman Rudhumbu during the Harare Institute of Public Health second graduation ceremony held in Harare on Saturday.
The basis of heritage-based solutions is in the Education 5.0 design which is a five-mission model of innovation and industrialisation established to move teaching towards a research and community service economy.
In his speech Prof Murwira said learning institutions like HIPH were complementing the National Development Strategy I (NDS1) which calls for a paradigm shift in the teaching and learning to build an innovation-led and knowledge-driven economy by 2025.
“The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development remains resolute and committed to instil the values of innovation and technology development. I have been informed by the Principal Dr, Amos Marume about the data centre for public health surveillance and mathematical modelling for drug discovery and development as well as the bioequivalence and clinical trials laboratory being championed by the Institute” he said.
“These technologies are indeed game-changers in public health. World over, in the advent of significant public health threats like Covid-19, drug resistant bugs and many more predictive sciences in public health have become a very important branch in the provision of health. The capacity for early detection of disease outbreaks, at-risk populations and communities and the causes will help us as policymakers to confront health emergencies timely before they spiral out of control. We expect this technology to be implemented to assist Zimbabwe in disease prevention and control.
“The bioequivalence laboratory is a ground-breaking development which is critical in terms of promoting local drug development or manufacturing initiatives contributing to enhanced access to affordable pharmaceutical drugs in Zimbabwe. I am informed the centre has significant support from the Regulatory Authority and the Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector. Government of Zimbabwe is ready to support you all the way to fruition. These are innovations anchored on National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Heritage Based Education 5.0, 6.”
Prof Murwira also said public health practitioners have a significant impact on individual and community health, working to prevent and control diseases as well as improving quality of life by promoting healthy behaviours and ensuring access to quality health care.
The Principal of HIPH Dr Amos Marume said the heritage-based solutions thrust was their guiding principle in complementing Government efforts of achieving health for all by 2030.
“HIPH, with significant support from the local pharmaceutical sector and the regulator, is setting up a bioequivalence centre to aid local production of pharmaceuticals as well as conduct clinical trials. The trials will also be including herbal medicines. The institute together with various relevant institutions developed professional development courses (CPDs) aimed at enhancing local production capacity and strengthening our supply chains” he said.
“These efforts again are expected to help drive prices of drugs down, enhance access and promote exports. HIPH has also contributed significantly in coming up with courses that, if implemented fully, will help standardise our traditional medicines and practice for more access and mainstreaming of indigenous knowledge-based solutions to our overburdened public health systems.”
leeroy
Online Reporter