Online Reporter
Sunday Mail Reporters
THE Government has launched a new digital parenting application designed to provide caregivers with reliable, evidence-based guidance on pregnancy, child nutrition, immunisation and early childhood development, as part of efforts to reduce malnutrition, improve child survival and counter harmful misinformation.
The application, Rerai Umntwana, was unveiled on Friday by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with UNICEF, with financial support from the government of Japan.
Developed in collaboration with health and child development experts, the platform offers practical guidance from pregnancy through a child’s first six years of life. It covers breastfeeding, immunisation schedules, growth monitoring, development milestones and positive parenting practices.
Available on both Google Playstore and Apple Appstore, the app can be accessed offline once downloaded and allows users to switch between English, Shona and Ndebele, improving accessibility.
Through the application, parents and caregivers can track their child’s development milestones from birth to six years, record vaccinations and input height and weight measurements to monitor growth.
The platform also provides tailored advice to support healthy development, daily games and stimulation ideas, as well as up-to-date information on infant and young child feeding.
Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora, in remarks read on his behalf by Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini, said the platform marks a significant milestone in Government’s efforts to harness technology to strengthen health outcomes.
“Rerai Umntwana comes at a critical time when we are intensifying efforts to reduce child mortality, malnutrition and preventable illnesses,” he said.
“This application will provide caregivers with reliable, evidence-based information to support them from pregnancy through early childhood.”
Dr Mombeshora said nearly one in four children under the age of five in Zimbabwe is stunted, while 4,3 percent suffer from wasting — a severe and life-threatening form of malnutrition.
“As Government, we recognise that the same digital platforms that can empower families with vital health information can also expose them to misleading and harmful advice.
“Through this initiative, we are ensuring that caregivers have access to credible guidance aligned with our national health policies,” he said.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said the app was a transformative innovation for maternal and child health services.
He said through its network of 42 clinics and hospitals, Harare provides primary healthcare services to thousands of women and children daily.
“In 2025 alone, antenatal care attendance at our maternity clinics reached approximately 50 000,” he said.
“In addition, child growth monitoring and immunisation services continue to reach tens of thousands of infants and young children across the city, reflecting both the demand for and the importance of these essential services.”
Harare, Cllr Mafume said, continues to face a complex nutrition burden.
“Each year, more than 1 000 children under the age of five with undernutrition are managed in our clinics, with the highest numbers coming from peri-urban communities. Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly Vitamin A and iron deficiency, continue to affect children, adolescents and women of childbearing age.
“At the same time, we are witnessing increasing levels of overweight and obesity among both children and adults, as highlighted in the latest Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey.
“This triple burden of malnutrition presents a complex public health challenge that requires innovative solutions.”
UNICEF Zimbabwe Representative Mrs Etona Ekole said the initiative demonstrates how digital innovation can strengthen national systems and deliver measurable results for children.
“Rerai Umntwana is a strong example of how Government leadership, strategic partnerships and digital innovation can come together to deliver results for children,” she said.
“By supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care to provide caregivers with trusted, evidence-based information, we are strengthening national systems, countering misinformation and advancing Zimbabwe’s priorities for child survival, nutrition and early childhood development, ensuring that every child has the best possible start in life.”
Tinaye Agere