Zimbabwe launches National Event-Based Surveillance guidelines to strengthen disease outbreak preparedness

Ministry of Health and Child Care, Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze officialy launch the Zimbabwe National Event Based surveillance guidelines whille flanked by Afica CDC's Southern Africa region incident manager Batsirai Mbodza (left) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, acting director Epidemiology and Disease control Dr Steve Karim(right) in Harare today. Picture: Memory Mangombe

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke

Senior Health Reporter

Zimbabwe has officially launched its National Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) guidelines in a significant step towards bolstering the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

The event, held in Harare today, brought together government officials, health experts, and development partners who lauded the launch as a milestone in improving national and continental health security.

Speaking at the launch, Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze said the development and adoption of the EBS Guidelines marked a critical juncture in Zimbabwe’s health system evolution.

“We are not gathered here merely to unveil a policy document. We are here to affirm a national commitment that the health and safety of every Zimbabwean is our highest priority,” he said.

Dr Maunganidze noted that Zimbabwe, like many countries in Africa, has faced multiple disease outbreaks, both known and emerging, over the past decade, with COVID-19 being a stark reminder of the gaps in surveillance systems.

“This is a bold step that we have taken. But we must be clear, guidelines alone do not protect populations. It is the implementation that matters,” he added.