By Kuda Pembere
Zimbabwe’s Health and Child Care Ministry on Thursday launched a Health Workforce Strategy (2023-2030) which seeks to transform the health workers’ capacity.
Officiating the launch, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the human resources for health are critical for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage as the country eyes an Upper Middle Income status by 2030.
The Health Minister said realising the challenges bedevilling the health labour force, the Health Service Commission (HSC) alongside technical partners such as the World Health Organization conducted a health labour market analysis.
Subsequently, the HSC and MOHCC along with key line Ministries, departments, and agencies with technical assistance from the WHO and partners developed an evidenced based health workforce strategy2023 to 2030 and the Health workforce investment plan for the period 2024 and 2026.
“The policies and programmes recommended in this strategy emanate from the broader vision of improving health outcomes and attaining Universal Health Coverage Index of 80 as we pursue the National Vision and goals,” he said.
The Minister of Skills Audit and Development Professor Paul Mavima commended the Health Ministry in coming up with this strategy.
“And there’s no doubt that we, especially the developing countries, we have, as a matter of policy primacy, we need to focus on our education and health sectors, and everything else will follow.
“It is therefore my pleasure to applaud the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the work that they’ve done in spearheading the formulation of these two documents and policy instruments.
“The concerted efforts of all stakeholders in developing these key documents for the health sector is an indication of government and stakeholder commitment in improving the effectiveness of our health system,” he said.
Dr. Matshidiso Moeti WHO Regional Director for Africa said Zimbabwe is a pacesetter country in operationalizing the principles of the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter which admonishes countries to use health labour market evidence to prioritise health workforce investments through national dialogues and formalize the commitments through investment compacts.
“The Signing of the Zimbabwe Health Workforce Investment Compact is a powerful demonstration of Zimbabwe’s commitment to invest in improving the workforce situation in the country. It is a bold step that will contribute to improving the health of the Zimbabwean people,” she said. “I encourage all partners to align with the Compact to amplify our collective impact, tackle infant mortality and infectious diseases, and provide essential services, like vaccinations, to all Zimbabweans.”
The HSC Chairperson Dr Vincent Hungwe said close to US$2 million is required to implement this strategy.
“The government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with our partners, has identified key areas for critical investment to transform our health workforce. And between 2024 and 2026, we need an investment of US$ 1.63 billion to jumpstart this crucial journey.
“In addition to the government’s current spending on human resource for health, an extra US$475 million is needed to achieve the goals set out in the investment compact for the years 2024 to 2026,” he said.
He added that investing in the health workforce has a ripple effect of improving the overall workforce and other factors of the economy.
“Apart from improving the effectiveness of health workforce, the strategy has a multiplier effect on other sectors of the economy.
“As empowered health workers who directly contribute in meeting health needs of other workers, thereby fostering a healthy workforce for the nation, my ministry is committed to driving skills development in the health sector and in the nation at large.
