‘My mission is to save lives’

Tanyaradzwa Rusike

AS a young lady studying sciences at St David’s Girls High School in the remote village of Bonda, Manicaland province, Dr Agnes Mahomva never imagined that one day she would lead Zimbabwe’s public health programme against the worst health pandemic the world has ever seen in more than 100 years.

At the beginning of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, sending the world into panic.

In Zimbabwe, Dr Mahomva was appointed chief co-ordinator for the national response to the pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet.

Her work during the peak phase of the Covid-19 pandemic helped the country successfully manage the health pandemic, which wreaked havoc in the developed world.

Zimbabwe has since been recognised internationally as having implemented one of the best Covid-19 responses in Africa and beyond.

But who is Dr Mahomva?

“I am a specialist public health physician with over 30 years’ experience in coordinating and leading public health programmes at local, regional and global level.

“Currently, I am the Zimbabwe chief co-ordinator for the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet since 2020,” she told The Sunday Mail.

“I am very proud of the success that Team Zimbabwe has recorded during my coordination assignments for both the national Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmissions and the national Covid-19 programmes.

“Specifically, Zimbabwe recorded an impressive decline in its mother-to-child transmission rate from 30 percent in 2000 to 6,4 percent in 2015.”

Dr Mahomva was raised in Mutare in a Christian family. Her passion for science developed when she was in high school.

“My upbringing was very disciplined and punctuated by a lot of love and support from my parents, relatives and the church community at Old Mutare Mission, where I was raised and went to primary school.

“My interest in science developed when I was in secondary school at St David’s Girls High School, Bonda Mission, in Juliasdale, Manicaland.

“As girls, we were strongly supported and encouraged to take up science subjects,” she said.

Having spent 30 years coordinating and leading public health programmes, Dr Mahomva said her mission is to save lives.

She is presently serving as a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Africa region Independent Emergency Preparedness and Response Technical Advisory Group, as well as a member of the WHO Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations Network.

She is also a member of the Africa REACH Leadership Council, a collaborative initiative that focuses on coordinating and advocating to end AIDS among the youth and children in Africa.

Outside Government, she has worked for over 10 years in various capacities for the Elizabeth Glazer Paediatric AIDS Foundation on HIV programming.

In recognition of her work, she was recently awarded the Order of the Star of Zimbabwe — Silver — for the successful coordination of the country’s Covid-19 response programme.

The mother of two commended her workmates, who have always supported her.

“This is a big honour; it means a lot to me. Words cannot describe how humbled and honoured I am by this recognition and award. I am truly grateful for it.

“I have enjoyed support and mentorship of public health physicians and other medical doctors when I served as the president of the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians from 2012 to the end of 2013, and later, when I served as the president of the Zimbabwe Medical Association from 2014 to 2018.”

Dr Mahomva said her passion for public health has seen her serve as a member of the Zimbabwe Public Health Advisory Board, which facilitated the review and update of the Zimbabwe Public Health Act between 2012 and 2013. Coordinating the country’s Covid-19 pandemic response, she said, taught her valuable life lessons.

“Some of the major lessons that I learnt were the importance of getting the highest-level leadership and commitment very early on in the pandemic, which was demonstrated by President Mnangagwa when he launched the National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Strategic Plan in March 2020.

“The second key lesson is the importance of prioritising domestic funding.

“A review of Zimbabwe’s 2021 Covid-19 response expenditure analysis demonstrated that 84 percent of the total US$362 million spent on the pandemic was from domestic funding.

“Zimbabwe was, therefore, able to immediately operationalise the national Covid-19 preparedness and response strategic plan in a timely fashion, without having to wait for donations to support the most vulnerable populations or to procure vaccines and other pandemic consumables,” said Dr Mahomva.

Although there were several challenges that came up during the fight against Covid-19, Dr Mahomva said she remained resolute.

“Fake Covid-19 news led to complacency and vaccine hesitancy.

“This was, however, mostly addressed using science-based risk communication and community engagement strategies and approaches, including multi-media communication approaches.

“The national response needed lots of funding and other resources to strengthen the health system, and to deal with the many negative economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

“Prioritising domestic funding and embracing partner collaboration went a long way in dealing with this challenge,” she said.

Science seems to run in her blood and this may have contributed to her decision in choosing a life partner.

Married to a maxillofacial surgeon — a medical professional who specialises in face, head, neck and jaw surgery — Dr Mahomva said the support she gets from her family keeps her moving forward.

“My family appreciates my work very much.

“They are very supportive at all times.

“This is one of the reasons I have been able to confidently do my work with no hesitation,” she said.

But above all, Dr Mahomva is a mother and a very humble person.

Outside the intense public health work, she enjoys spending time with her family, going to church, reading, swimming and watching tennis.