Muchaneta Chimuka
The Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH), in collaboration with the Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, will hold the 3rd Zimbabwe Public Health Symposium from December 8-9 this year in Harare.
Over 250 delegates are expected at the event, which will be held under the theme: “Heritage–based solutions for building resilient public health systems”.
Speaking at a media briefing at HIPH offices in Harare, Dr Nyaradzai Artster Katena, a Public Health and Health Promotion Specialist, said the event comes as Zimbabwe’s public health sector faces overlapping priorities.
“Zimbabwe is faced with a disease burden which includes communicable and non–communicable ones, health financing and workforce pressures, and climate-related threats,” she said.
“The 3rd Public Health Symposium brings policymakers, health professionals, researchers, development partners, communities and private–sector leaders together to connect indigenous knowledge and local experience with scientific evidence and innovation for stronger, resilient health systems.”
She said the programme will have a high – level policy dialogue, research presentations, expert panels, innovation and exhibition showcases, networking coupled with the Zimbabwe Public Health Awards.
“We are calling for abstracts from researchers, health professionals, policy makers, students and organisations,” she said.
Dr Katema highlighted some of the themes that are going to be discussed during the symposium, which include heritage-based solutions for resilient public health systems, health financing, primary health care and workforce, digital health and AI, disease prevention and health security, One Health and climate change.
“We are expecting participants from countries such as Kenya, China, Namibia, South Africa and Canada, among others,” she said.
“The symposium will provide a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwe’s public health sector to exchange knowledge and learn from the experiences, research and innovations of other countries.
“This will help policymakers, health professionals, researchers and partners identify practical approaches to strengthening primary health care, developing the health workforce, improving health financing and responding to emerging public health challenges.
It will also create opportunities for collaboration, research partnerships and the sharing of locally relevant solutions, supporting a more resilient and sustainable health system in Zimbabwe,” she said.
She said the symposium is advantageous to Zimbabwe because it will tackle some major public health issues in Zimbabwe, including HIV, tuberculosis, cancers, hypertension, diabetes, among others.
