By Kuda Pembere
The curtain has come down on the Zimbabwe COVID-19 Response and Essential Health Services Project (ZCREHSP), following the successful renovation and equipping of 25 district health facilities across the country.
The project was funded by the World Bank and implemented by Cordaid on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The upgraded districts include Gokwe South, Munene Mission, Murambinda, Marange, Hauna, Mashoko Mission, Chikombedzi, Musiso Mission, Matibi Mission, Chidamoyo, Sanyati, Father O’Hea, Siakobvu, Sadza, Mutoko, Mutawatawa, Nhowe Mission, Chitsungo Mission, Marymount, St Alberts, Mt Darwin, Inyati, Nkayi, Manama Mission, and St Anne’s Brunapeg Hospital.
Officiating at the close-out and handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Sleiman Kwidini said the project began in 2022 while the country was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since its inception in April 2022, the project—spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with support from the World Bank and implemented by Cordaid—has played a pivotal role in strengthening our health system.
“The parent grants, including the Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) fund (US$5 million) and the Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme (ESMAP) (US$1.575 million), were later complemented by an additional US$15 million from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) in September 2024. This collective support has been vital in achieving the impressive milestones we are celebrating today,” he said.
He added that this was one of the most successful health projects in Africa.
“So, what we are witnessing is not just the end of a phase, but the success of a project that, as highlighted during our briefing, has excelled—perhaps not just in Africa, but globally. Through our strategies and measures, especially on COVID-19 prevention, I believe Zimbabwe has demonstrated world-class performance,” the Deputy Minister added.
World Bank representative to Zimbabwe, Eneida Fernandes, commended Zimbabwe’s progress in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that over half a million people received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Cordaid Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Ms. Heleen van der Beek, emphasized the importance of timely implementation for the project’s success.
“From the moment we assumed the role of Project Implementing Entity for the World Bank and the Ministry, we embraced a shared vision of speed, precision, and impact. On behalf of the Cordaid team, I stand before you proud of what we have achieved together in such a short span of time. The ZCREHSP and the EHS projects are both emergency response initiatives.
“Speed, accuracy, and responsiveness to local needs and priorities were key to ensuring that we met the project’s objectives—strengthening Zimbabwe’s healthcare system, especially in the face of global pandemics and ongoing challenges in maternal and child health care,” she said.
“This is not the end of our work, but merely the close of a project phase. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Government of Zimbabwe, particularly the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Finance, for their unwavering dedication throughout this project and in our collaborative efforts over the years.
“Despite the setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe made commendable progress in providing reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services.
“Our achievements since 2022, amid the challenges of the pandemic, are worth celebrating. The project’s shift from an emergency response to proactive adjustments in response to evolving needs has been crucial. These key achievements have already been highlighted,” she concluded.
“None of this would have been possible without the trust placed in us by the Government of Zimbabwe and the World Bank. To the Honourable Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care and the Minister of Finance and Economic Development—your guidance and partnership formed the foundation of our success. And to our colleagues at the World Bank, thank you for your unwavering support, technical expertise, and confidence in Cordaid’s ability to deliver within tight timelines.”
