derick.khumalo
Raymond Jaravaza
[email protected]
A FIVE-day Public Health Sector Wellness Festival is scheduled to be hosted by the Health Service Commission (HSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, at Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru starting next Monday.
The inaugural festival will run under the theme: “Stronger Together, Healthier Together” with participants drawn from the health care sector from the country’s 10 provinces, central hospitals and public-private sector stakeholders.
First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, through her philanthropic organisation, Angel of Hope Foundation will support the event by providing state-of-the-art screening facilities while Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Douglas Mombeshora and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube are expected to grace the event.
In a statement HSC said the festival drives the commission’s strategic mandate under the attainment of Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) to build a resilient, motivated healthcare workforce.
“By investing in the physical, mental, and financial well-being of frontline workers, the initiative directly strengthens national service delivery and patient outcomes.
“Over the five days participants will benefit from mental health workshops, burnout prevention sessions, team-building activities, sports, and wellness engagements designed to promote healthier workplaces and a more motivated health sector,” said HSC.
The festival will also extend benefits to the wider community by offering free medical services to the public.
“Free medical services to the public will include screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, blood pressure, and diabetes as well as testing and support services for HIV testing and counselling together with general wellness assessments.
“On the educative side members of the public will benefit from preventive health advice and lifestyle modification counselling,” reads the statement.
HSC said a vibrant Health and Wellness Exhibition at the festival venue at MSU will run concurrently.
“Leading pharmaceutical companies, financial institutions, medical aid societies and development partners will showcase innovations, fostering critical public-private collaborations to modernise Zimbabwe’s health sector,” reads the statement.
A march led by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service band and local drum majorettes will start from the Midlands Hotel, past Gweru Provincial Hospital and will end at the MSU multi-purpose hall.
