LOCAL Universities and manufacturers are set to exhibit locally produced Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) coordinated by the National Pharmaceutical Company (NTAPHARM) as a way of recognising their great contribution in mitigating COVID-19 pandemic.
By Patricia Mashiri
The exhibition is set to take place at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on August 20, 2021 to showcase locally available PPEs, forge linkages within the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, expand markets, promote research and forge synergies between State Universities and local industry.
Speaking during a press conference, Gibson Dumba, Acting Managing Director NATPHARM said the initiative was mooted with the aim of furthering objectives of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) whose success is premised on achieving economic growth and stability anchored on production and productivity.
Improved health services delivery is central to sustainable economic growth, as healthy populations live longer, are more productive and accumulate more savings. Achieving high levels of productivity through industrialization is therefore closely linked to an efficient health services delivery to guarantee economic growth.
“The exhibition is in recognition of the immense contribution made by local industries and tertiary institutions to mitigating the adverse impacts of the rabid COVID-19 pandemic,”Dumba said.
Dumba added that when COVID-19 was first reported in the country, shortages of the PPEs were rampart as local companies could not have capacity to produce in bulk and importation took too long to deliver.
“Government then supported State Universities and local manufacturers by availing initial budget support to the tune of ZWL33 million for setting up production units and sourcing of raw materials. This culminated in the production hand sanitizers, face masks, surgical gowns, theatre shoes and other protective items of clothing at much lower prices which the public could afford.”
Meanwhile Dr Blessing Kambarami, A representative from local; manufacturers said the COVID-19 era presented a lot of challenges to a lot of sectors.
“Moving around raw materials has been a challenge in the COVID-19 era but we have made arrangements to make sure that we are always equipped with these materials. Overally we are optimistic that whatever demand that is there in the country we will locally manufacture products that will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We are prepared and will be there to stand as guard to ensure that there are no shortages of these materials,” Kambarami
