A delegation of 12 Iranian specialists from various medical disciplines is in the country for an exchange visit, as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation in the health and medical field between the two countries.
By Michael Gwarisa
The doctors will be touring health facilities in Bulawayo starting tomorrow and will be in the country for the next two weeks where they will exchange experiences with medical doctors in Zimbabwe’s health institutions.
Speaking at the courtesy call on the Office of the Vice President by the 12 member delegation at his Munhumuptaa Boardroom, Health and Child Care Minister and Vice President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga said the visit by the team marks the beginning of a great friendship between Zimbabwe and Iran.
The two nations have since agreed on the following terms of cooperation: exchange programs for health professionals for purposes of sharing new techniques, technologies, including training, education programs and capacity buildings,” said Vice President Chiwenga.
He added that the cooperation will also aid in the exchange, dissemination and sharing of information on health issues in areas of common interest, creating partnerships between the participants’ respective health institutions and organisations as well as undertaking bio-medical and health systems research.
“The cooperation will see us share experience in health sector reforms in the context of sector-wife approach, decentralization of health services, and coordination of donors and non-governmental organizations. This will also see us undertaking appraisal, evaluation and bench-marking missions to respective countries to study, analyse and identify health programs, devising and advocating for effective mechanisms for prevention and fight against epidemics, pandemics and various illnesses notably Malaria and Tuberculosis amidst the general population and the migrants of respective countries.”
The team comprises of a pediatrician, radiologist, ophthalmologist, gynecologist, ENT specialist, anesthetist, general surgeon, pharmacists and a dermatologist.
Iranian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Abbas Navani said Iran was advancing in terms of healthcare sector development through innovation and technologies and they would wish to extend that expertise to Zimbabwe to ensure the country enhances its health sector.
“We are producing 95% of our medicines in Iran and fortunately we are also producing several vaccines in our country and we are ready to export even to other countries. This visiting delegation is another example of how much we value the friendship between Zimbabwe and Iran,” said Ambassador Navani.
Permanent in the Ministry of Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Jasper Chimedza said the visit will also explore areas of collaboration in the healthcare sector.
“This gathering follows a series of meetings we had as the ministry together with His Excellency the ambassador of Iran and your team where we the crafted this exercise and we are very happy that this has come to us at last. We hope that our local doctors will learn a lot from this visit considering that this team is a very rich one in terms of knowledge,” said Dr Chimedza.
The team will start by visiting United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) before going to Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo.
