Gibson Mhaka [email protected]
MINISTER of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube will today (saturday ) officiate at the inaugural graduation ceremony of the African Centre for Global Health Innovation and Research (ACGHIR), where 42 students will graduate as pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants.
The ceremony held at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Hall 2, marks a significant milestone for the institution as it steps up efforts to contribute towards addressing critical skills shortages in the country’s health sector.
A total of 23 students will graduate as pharmacy technicians, while 19 will receive qualifications as dispensary assistants, adding to the pool of skilled personnel required to strengthen pharmaceutical services and healthcare delivery.
ACGHIR is the second private research and training institution in the country to offer training for pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants after the Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH), which opened in 2019.
The institution was established following Government approval as part of efforts to expand training opportunities in the pharmaceutical sector and strengthen the country’s healthcare delivery system.
It is registered with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO), and accredited by the Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe (PCZ).
The training institution seeks to equip students with professional skills that enable them to work as pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in community pharmacies, healthcare institutions, the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory bodies and academic environments.
Its establishment also dovetails with Government’s broader development agenda, particularly the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030, which place emphasis on developing home-grown solutions to improve the health and well-being of citizens.
The institution’s training programmes are expected to improve access to pharmaceutical services by strengthening the workforce that supports pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in both the public and private sectors.
Through its specialised training programmes, ACGHIR is positioning itself as an important contributor to the development of a skilled pharmaceutical workforce and the country’s pursuit of universal health coverage.
