Online Reporter
Andile Tshuma, Zimpapers Health Writer
ZIMBABWE is intensifying efforts to strengthen its public health systems through the establishment of a National Public Health Institute (NPHI), a strategic body expected to enhance disease surveillance, coordination, and response to health emergencies.
The institute will integrate surveillance, research, laboratory systems, and rapid response under one structure to ensure timely and informed decision-making, complementing the work of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The establishment of the NPHI is expected to improve Zimbabwe’s ability to mobilise resources, strengthen accountability, and enhance co-ordination of public health functions across Government and its partners.
Speaking at the recent NPHI inception meeting in Bulawayo, which marked the official launch of the institute, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the NPHI would serve as a central platform for evidence-based decision-making and health intelligence, bringing together critical functions currently spread across departments.
He said the institute is part of the Government’s broader efforts to align the country’s health systems with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)’s New Public Health Order, which promotes self-reliance, strong national institutions, and improved emergency preparedness.
“Establishing the Zimbabwe National Public Health Institute demonstrates foresight, leadership, and commitment to the health and security of our people. It signifies that we, as a nation, are not waiting for the next emergency to prevent, prepare and protect. The National Public Health
Institute will be our co-ordination hub for public health intelligence and action,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Dr Mombeshora said the NPHI would also strengthen co-ordination between central and provincial levels, ensuring that no public health threat goes undetected or unmanaged.
“This institute will connect the dots between surveillance, laboratories, and community health systems. That linkage is what transforms data into action and saves lives. I wish to express my deep appreciation to the World Health Organisation and the Africa CDC for their unwavering technical leadership and partnership in this journey. The WHO continues to play a global normative role, setting standards, providing guidance, and ensuring that principles of health security and system strengthening are globally consistent yet locally relevant,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the Government values this global stewardship.
“We look forward to WHO’s continued leadership alongside Africa CDC, which brings an African context and voice to our health security architecture,” he said.
Senior Public Health Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said the institute comes at a critical time when Zimbabwe must accelerate progress towards achieving regional and global health targets.
She said the world was off track in making significant progress towards universal health coverage, hence the national health institute would help the country reach its set goals.
“We have made great strides as a country, but our systems need to be more coherent. The NPHI will turn our strategies and plans into measurable action, enabling us to detect, prevent, and respond to public health threats more efficiently,” said Dr Mahomva.
She added that the institute would bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring stronger collaboration across Government, academia and development partners.
Chief Director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Raiva Simbi, said the framework for the NPHI is being developed in consultation with national and international experts to ensure sustainability and inclusivity.
“The NPHI will not be a stand-alone entity but a co-ordinating mechanism that strengthens linkages within the health sector. It will also support capacity building, research, and data management while working closely with institutions such as the University of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians,” he said.
The European Union, which has supported similar initiatives in other African countries, reaffirmed its commitment to Zimbabwe’s health reforms, channelling 4.2 million euros towards the establishment of the NPHI.
Dr Roisin Rooney, representing the EU Delegation, said a strong, well-coordinated national public health structure is key to resilience.
“The regional Team Europe Initiative support for national public health institutes in Africa responds to the call for a New Public Health Order in Africa, Agenda 2063, and is guided by the Africa CDC framework.
“It is part of the Global Gateway health investment package presented at the 6th EU-AU Summit in 2022 at the ministerial level, which focuses on building capacities of national public health institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa,” she said.
Dr Rooney said the EU remains a committed partner to Zimbabwe’s health system strengthening agenda.
“A robust National Public Health Institute will help ensure sustainability and readiness, not only for emergencies but also for everyday health challenges,” she said.
The establishment of the NPHI places Zimbabwe in full alignment with the Africa CDC’s vision under the New Public Health Order, which calls on member states to build strong national institutions capable of leading and sustaining their own health security agendas.
Once operational, the institute will position Zimbabwe among a growing number of African countries that have institutionalised national health intelligence systems — a significant step towards a healthier and more resilient nation.
