Kadoma - From November 26-29, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in Zimbabwe convened a State Party Self-Assessment Annual Reporting workshop. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), this workshop was designed to evaluate Zimbabwe's adherence to the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) and pinpoint areas for enhancement. The event provided a platform for reporting on and reviewing the implementation of the IHR (2005), highlighting the country's progress in detecting and responding to public health emergencies.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, public health experts, and representatives from various sectors, to discuss and improve Zimbabwe's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies. This demonstrates the country's commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the International Health Regulations (2005) and strengthening global health security. 

"This exercise helps us evaluate our current capabilities and identify areas for improvement in responding to diverse public health emergencies,” said Dr Wenceslaus Nyamayaro, MoHCC Chief Director for Public Health. 

The International Health Regulations (IHR) are a legally binding framework established by WHO to prevent, detect, and respond to public health emergencies of international concern.

During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions, shared experiences, and exchanged best practices related to the IHR's implementation. Despite funding challenges, Zimbabwe has made progress in surveillance, risk communication, and laboratory capacity services. Outbreak detection and reporting have improved, leading to better information dissemination, which is crucial during outbreaks. Additionally, the country has strong leadership from IHR National Focal Points. In 2023, Zimbabwe scoring was at 66%, which is higher than the regional average of 50% and global average of 63% and is one of the countries that has religiously conducted the assessment.

WHO is supporting Zimbabwe by strengthening its surveillance system, providing technical guidance and operational support for risk assessment, and ensuring ongoing risk communication and community engagement. The organization is also assisting with establishing or accessing laboratory services, providing relevant training, and conducting intra-action (IAR) and after-action reviews (AAR) to identify best practices, gaps, and lessons learned. After the report writing process, the document will be submitted to the IHR secretariat to contribute to the IHR (2005) report, which will be presented to Ministers of Health during the World Health Assembly in 2025.

“While challenges remain, the country’s commitment to implementing the IHR is commendable. WHO will continue to support Zimbabwe in strengthening its health systems and safeguarding the health of its population,” said Dr Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative to Zimbabwe.