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Mukudzei Chingwere Herald Reporter
Mozambique has been pleasantly surprised by the rapid transformation in Zimbabwe’s health sector and the country is willing to take a leaf from local experiences, visiting Minister of Health Armindo Tiago has said.
Zimbabwe’s health system is being configured towards the attainment of best international practices accessed by everyone as a means of improving people’s livelihoods.
The visiting Mozambican Minister was particularly impressed by Zimbabwe’s ability to operationalise the triple helix model, which refers to interactions between academia, industry and government, to foster economic and social development.
He had toured the stands of companies and tertiary institutions manufacturing medical consumables locally at the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to get an appreciation of local processes.
“We are impressed with the advancement Zimbabwe has had in the last five years compared to Mozambique,” said Minister Tiago.
“I think we need to learn from each other, and learning from Zimbabwe; we want to put a collaboration process where Zimbabwean knowledge and technology can be implemented in Mozambique and also those small things that we can offer can also be implemented in Zimbabwe.
“What they are doing, companies and universities are what is expected for universities and companies to do.
“The problem in Africa is that universities are not doing what they are expected to do.
“Our take home is to go and speak to the minister of science and technology and higher education to also share the experience that we saw in Zimbabwe for them to start doing the same,” said Minister Tiago.
Acting Minister of Health and Child Care who is Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira explained the county’s production.
“Zimbabwe has the capacity to export to our sister countries including Mozambique. In the past three years this country has grown in confidence.”
“Zimbabwe and Mozambique are going in the right direction. In terms of what we can do, I will just give you an example of our oxygen production.
“Our oxygen production is 50 tonnes of medical oxygen per day, and Zimbabwe as a country requires 150 tonnes per month.
“It basically tells you that for 27 days all that production is excess production so in terms of what companies are doing and what universities are doing, this is what they are expected to do,” said Minister Murwira.
“In industry that is sustainable grows from innovation so we are convinced that going forward we have the capacity and right now we have the capacity to get into the regional markets.”
The visiting Minister also toured NatPharm warehouse which is now 90 percent complete and will be ready for occupation by April 2022.
The warehouse measures 12 000 square meters with a holding capacity of 12000 pallets, NatPharm is also constructing a new warehouse in Mutare after the Government to bolster its warehousing facilities.
Online Reporter