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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is committed to prioritising the health and well-being of women, children and other marginalised populations in Zimbabwe to attain universal health coverage.
Speaking after presenting his credentials to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Frederick Shava last week, newly appointed WHO representative for Zimbabwe Dr Desta Tiruneh highlighted the importance of prioritising healthcare for all.
“As WHO, our job is to assist the Government in the health sector to implement what has been agreed globally and at regional level by member states in alignment with Government priorities.
“Mothers and children are at the centre of what we do. These are the most vulnerable population groups and we are actually implementing projects that take care of issues of mothers, children and adolescents. They are on our global commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals.”
Dr Tiruneh acknowledged Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to address health challenges even though the country is faced with critical health workforce shortages as a result of brain drain. He commended Government’s commitment to health sector reforms and collaboration with international bodies like the WHO.
Welcoming Dr Tiruneh, Minister Shava pledged the Government’s commitment and expressed gratitude for WHO’s invaluable technical support in addressing public health challenges, including ongoing cholera and polio outbreaks.
Minister Shava said Zimbabwe would continue to work with WHO to ensure that it improves and strengthens health systems and the health sector in general as well as building the capacity of health sector experts to enable them to deal with and control various diseases emerging in society.
“We acknowledge the role of WHO and appreciate the work being done in various pillars to support country priorities,” he said.
Dr Tiruneh’s appointment took effect on April 1 this year with the presentation of credentials marking the commencement of his tenure. With over two decades of development experience, Dr Tiruneh served as WHO Representative in The Gambia from September 2017 to March 2024.
A medical doctor by profession, he previously served as an assistant professor at a medical school and held leadership roles in health programme management at district, regional, and national levels in Ethiopia.
In his new role, he said he was looking forward to collaborating with the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate progress towards achieving health-related goals, with a particular focus on strengthening the country’s health systems.
Online Reporter