Tag: Universal Health Coverage

Zimbabwe’s Rusike Appointed Global UHC Champion

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwean public health expert and Executive Director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), Itai Rusike, has been selected as one of only ten Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Champions globally. Rusike brings to this distinguished cohort decades of experience in public health advocacy, policy development, and the design of people-centred health systems. His work spans grassroots community engagement, national health strategy formulation, and regional collaboration, reflecting a deep commitment to strengthening health systems across Africa. Reacting to his induction, Rusike said: “For more than twenty years,…

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Zimbabwe’s Top 10 Health Champions for 2025

Healthtimes

As has become tradition at HealthTimes, every year we honour leaders in the healthcare sector who are making a difference and contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s health system. This year, we are doing things differently. We have categorised the champions according to their sectors or areas of influence, focusing on innovation and the strategies that healthcare leaders in Zimbabwe have employed to overcome the hurdles facing the sector. The year 2025 brought new disruptions to the country’s healthcare system, following the withdrawal of donor funding for a number of programmes. However,…

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Global Fund Appeals for Support Ahead of 8th Replenishment, Calls for African Ownership of HIV Programs

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Durban The Global Fund last night took to the platform at the ongoing 4th CPHIA Conference in Durban, South Africa, to call for support towards the 8th Replenishment, aimed at strengthening HIV programs amid shrinking donor support. The Global Fund’s 8th Replenishment is a campaign launched in 2025 to raise 18 billion US dollars to fight HIV, TB, and malaria between 2027 and 2029. The 8th cycle aims to save 23 million lives, avert 400 million infections, reduce mortality by 64% compared to 2023, and strengthen…

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Scientists Converge in Record Numbers as 2025 CPHIA Opens in Durban

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Durban, South Africa Registration data show that approximately 800 scientists and researchers from various scientific disciplines had registered for participation by the opening day of the 2025 Conference for Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa. The conference runs from October 22 to 25, 2025 under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa.” It is aimed at deliberating on numerous issues affecting healthcare. Officiating at the opening ceremony of the 4th CPHIA, South Africa’s Deputy Minister…

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Domestic Health Financing To Be Top Of The Agenda For CPHIA 2025

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The tone has already been set for the hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) scheduled for Durban, South Africa from October 22 to 25, 2025. The conference will deliberate on numerous issues, chief among them domestic health financing, as Africa seeks sustainable solutions amid dwindling donor support. The meeting will be held under the theme “Moving Towards Self-Reliance to Achieve Universal Health Coverage and Health Security in Africa” and will be co-hosted by the Africa CDC and the Government of…

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Zimbabwe Moves to Finalize National Health Insurance Bill Ahead of Parliament

Kuda Pembere
Minister of Health Dr. Douglas Mombeshora shares a light moment with Dr. Ron Mhizha of the Eye Institute and Chrispen Dzingirai of Old Mutual Zimbabwe during the launch of free cataract eye clinics.

By Kudakwashe Pembere Anticipating the enactment of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme by year-end, efforts to finalize the NHI Bill are on course, with Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora confirming it will be sent to Parliament this month. After decades of consultation and research, Zimbabwe’s proposed NHI scheme is now closer to fruition. Dr. Mombeshora told a Health Partners Coordination meeting on Friday that the much-awaited scheme will help pool resources for the health sector. We meet at a time when we are driving ambitious reforms…

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City of Harare Health Insurance Officially Launched

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Harare health insurance has taken a major step forward with the launch of the Community Health Equity Fund (CHEF), aimed at improving access to healthcare and reducing reliance on out-of-pocket payments. The scheme, supported by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), ZB Financial Holdings, and Harare Municipal Medical Aid Society (HHMAS), will see residents pay a once-off registration fee of US$1 and an annual subscription fee of US$2. The pilot will run in the Southern District of Harare, beginning…

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Recognition and support for village health workers in Zimbabwe: Panacea to ensure the success of primary health care and universal health coverage

Healthtimes

By: Enock Musungwini, MPH, MBA The Zimbabwe Village Health Worker programme began in the 1980s, soon after independence, with the aim of enhancing access to primary health care (PHC) services in line with the then Alma Ata Declaration (1978) and now the Astana Declaration (2018) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC 2030). According to the World Health Organisation, “primary health care is a whole-of-society approach to health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well-being and their equitable distribution by focusing on people’s needs and as early…

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Community Health Workers Go Digital

Healthtimes

WHEN Nelson Mwanawenyu, a nurse at a plantation estate clinic in Manicaland province applied for a position with a private health institution in the city of Mutare, he was told the interview would be conducted through the Skype social media platform. By Caiphas Chimhete, CWGH He innocently asked the secretary who had phoned him to give exact directions to Skype, which he thought were some magnificent building in the mountainous city. Mwanawenyu’s enquiry sent the secretary into a bout of laughter. She however later explained to him that Skype was…

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National Health Insurance Next Year

Healthtimes

HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo has assured the nation that the  National Health Insurance Scheme will be up and running  by January next year. By Kudakwashe Pembere He told journalists on the sidelines of the World Health Day Commemorations on Friday that plans to realise Universal Health Coverage through this health scheme are well on course. “With universal health coverage we are looking at national health insurance. We have already started on the national health insurance scheme. Our plans are very well advanced now working together with…

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