The Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe Trust (ICAZ) hosted a two day National Infection Prevention Control indaba in Harare recently in a bid to reflect on the progress made as well as identify gaps in the country’s health care sector.
By Nthokozo Gudu
The meeting brought together multidisciplinary infection control practitioners from across the country’s 10 provinces including the public and private health sector and mission health institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Permanent Secretary Air Commodore, Dr. Jasper Chimedza. Director Nursing Services in the Ministry, Nyaradzai Chiwara called for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing challenges bedeviling the country’s healthcare sector.
ICAZ-T has been working with the Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC) in developing the infection prevention and control (IPC) Programme in Zimbabwe for many years. ICAZ also participated in the revision of the National IPC Policy,the National IPC Strategy and M&E Plan which will be finalized and officially launched. My Ministry appreciates such partnerships,recognizing that the government cannot address these challenges alone.
‘’This year’s conference comes at an opportune time –post the COVID-19 pandemic and after the 76th World Health Assembly recognized the role IPC plays in reducing Healthcare Associated Infections and also preventing public health emergencies at the national ,health facility level and in the community,’’ She said.
She added that the conference would contribute to the understanding of how the health community of Zimbabwe can move forward to strengthen practices in the National programme of infection prevention and control (IPC),
‘’Infection prevention and control is a practical, evidence-based approach that prevents patients and health workers from being harmed by avoidable infections. Effective IPC programmes require constant action at all levels of the health system that include policymakers, facility managers, health workers and those who access health services. Without effective IPC, it is impossible to achieve quality health care delivery. This conference will enlighten on how the health community can strengthen practices in IPC.”
ICAZ President Dr Celestino Dhenge highlighted the importance of infection prevention control, reflecting on the areas which required urgent address.
“Infection and Prevention Control is very critical, it is important in that when we prevent infections, we are also likely to prevent resistant micro organisms. These organisms are expensive to treat which can lead to drainage of resources of the country. This may also lead to long period of admission for patients and may die, so this is an area we want to emphasize and interface between infection and prevention control and microbial resistance compacting,’’ said Dr Dhenge.
“Continued training of healthcare workers, probably starting at the pre-employment level when they are being trained under the diploma or undergraduate level is needed. We need to ensure that the curriculum are reviewed to include infection and prevention control.”
Dr Dhenge also added that IPC programmes needed a specific budget so as to ensure effective control of infections,
“We also need to look at the area of budget support for IPC programmes, currently the IPC is getting support from different programmes ,we would want a dedicated budget probably even starting in the 2024 budget to have a budget specifically for IPC programmes to continue strengthening it. We have learnt through the Covid-19 pandemic that there were gaps globally and locally so focusing on prevention is critical,’’ he said.
