Vusumuzi Dube
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Senior Health Reporter
A HIGH-LEVEL meeting focused on enhancing Zimbabwe’s capacity for clinical research and trials bringing together key stakeholders in the healthcare sector under the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) banner is underway in Harare.
The stakeholders are drawn from the Government, pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies and research institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa Clinical Research Network (ACRN) meeting, Chief Executive Officer Dr Tariro Makadzange underscored the urgent need for increased clinical research and trials to address Africa’s specific medical needs.
She noted that while infectious diseases continue to be a significant concern, the continent is also facing an escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders.
“Our objective is to bolster our ability to conduct research and trials that are relevant to our local health challenges. We are eager to enhance our capacity to shape and participate in this critical area but we can only achieve this with support from our Ministry of Health, regulators and the establishment of a conducive research environment,” Dr Makadzange said.
The meeting aims to foster collaboration among Government agencies, researchers, the private sector and philanthropic organisations to address existing gaps in the clinical research ecosystem.
Online Reporter