PRESS RELEASE

Harare, 15 February 2023 – The Government of Japan has committed USD 633,975 to strengthen access to safe, timely and affordable Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia (SOA) care services in Manicaland and Matabeleland North Provinces. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The funding from the Japanese Government will support SOA care services for everyone in need of care at all levels. It will also build the capacity of critical specialist health workers providing SOA services in Zimbabwe, provide basic and critical SOA equipment and consumables at selected high-burden secondary-level health facilities, and strengthen the national Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) to allow effective decision-making.  It is expected that, by the end of 2023, a significant number of patients in need of surgical care services will have received high quality care. 

The Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe, H.E Mr. Satoshi Tanaka, said “Zimbabwe’s sustainable development and the attainment of its vision of a middle-income country by 2030 can only be assured if its citizens are healthy and have access to quality health care services. Japan will support Zimbabwe’s efforts to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening access to safe, timely and affordable SOA care, for which there is a dire need.” 

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing challenges in providing SOA care services owing to lack of surgical equipment, shortage of medicines, consumables, and sundries essential for SOA care services. This has seen in a decline in essential surgical procedures being done in hospitals across the country and resulting in long waiting lists.

The Permanent Secretary for MoHCC, Dr Jasper Chimedza, highlighted that MoHCC is committed to ensuring that every person in need of SOA services receive quality and timely care at all levels of the healthcare system.  In this regard, the SOA care system is currently being strengthened, as articulated in the first ever National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Strategy (NSOAS: 2022 – 2025) which was launched in September 2022.

The supplementary budget funding from Japan will make a significant contribution in the delivery of quality surgical care services in Zimbabwe. Essential surgical and anaesthetic care is an indispensable component of UHC.

“The MoHCC will maintain its stewardship in making progress towards achieving the highest possible level of health and quality of life for every person in Zimbabwe. The funding will also contribute to the ongoing efforts to address some of the emerging challenges of Non-Communicable Diseases which include conditions amenable to surgical care,” said Dr Chimedza.

WHO Country Representative a.i. Professor Jean-Marie Dangou Director reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to support the MoHCC in strengthening the health system and implementation of the National Health Strategy (NHS 2022 – 2025) for which delivery of safe and quality SOA care are amongst its priorities. He appreciated the support of development partners for the implementation of Zimbabwe’s SOA Strategy to accelerate Zimbabwe’s progress towards attainment of UHC.

An estimated 845 631 people are expected to access emergency surgical services by end of 2023 through the proposed interventions in this project.   

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About WHO: 

WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage. We direct and coordinate the world’s response to health emergencies. And we promote healthier lives – from pregnancy care through old age. Our Triple Billion targets outline an ambitious plan for the world to achieve good health for all using science-based policies and programmes.   For more information on WHO's work and programmes in Zimbabwe, www.afro.who.int/countries/zimbabwe. Follow us on Twitter: @WHO_Zimbabwe: Facebook: World Health Organization Zimbabwe Instagram: @WHO Zimbabwe

For more information and media queries please contact:

For World Health Organization:

Communications Specialist, Ms Tatenda Ann Chimbwanda, Email - chimbwandat [at] who.int (chimbwandat[at]who[dot]int),  Phone Number; +263 783868326.

For Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe

Oliver Wales Smith, Economic Cooperation Assistant, Email – oliver.joshua.wales-smitj [at] hz.mofa.go.jp (oliver[dot]joshua[dot]wales-smitj[at]hz[dot]mofa[dot]go[dot]jp), Phone Number; Tel: +263 0242 250025.