By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe has opened its doors to public health leaders from across Southern Africa this week, hosting the fourth edition of the Regional National Public Health Institutes (NPHI) Indaba. The three-day meeting, which began on June 25 in Harare, convenes African Union (AU) Member States, global health partners, and technical institutions to evaluate progress and reinforce the commitment toward building and strengthening National Public Health Institutes across the continent.
Organised by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the gathering seeks to address persistent gaps in the establishment and functionality of NPHIs in several AU countries. It also provides a forum for peer learning and collective strategising under the framework of Africa CDC’s New Public Health Order and Agenda 2063.
Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, officially opened the meeting, commending Africa CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their role in championing the establishment of NPHIs. He emphasised that Ministries of Health play a pivotal leadership role, especially in ensuring that these institutions are legally mandated, properly resourced, and aligned with national health priorities.
NPHIs serve as the scientific backbone for timely and evidence-based public health interventions,” Dr. Mombeshora said. “They coordinate disease surveillance, outbreak response, research, and capacity-building — all of which are essential for resilient health systems.”
He called on participating countries to share lessons and reaffirm their political will to develop fully functional public health institutions.
The momentum for NPHI establishment has been steadily building. According to Africa CDC, significant progress has been made since the 2022 NPHI Directors’ meeting. That gathering laid out clear action points, including promoting high-level advocacy, strengthening institutional collaboration, and fostering regional peer-to-peer learning. This week’s meeting aims to review the outcomes of those strategies and set the stage for the next phase of implementation.
Dr. Lul Riek, Africa CDC Regional Director for Southern Africa, set the tone for the meeting, highlighting the central role of NPHIs in realising the continent’s health aspirations.
“Our goal is to ensure that all 55 AU countries have fully operational NPHIs,” said Dr. Riek. “These institutions are critical to promoting health, preventing disease, and driving the collective vision of a healthier, more resilient Africa.” He described NPHIs as crucial bridges between health and allied sectors, particularly in the context of the One Health approach and the push for universal health coverage.
While acknowledging the benefits of NPHIs, Dr. Riek also issued a clarion call to policymakers and stakeholders: “It is time for this generation to reclaim our health sovereignty and build systems that truly reflect the needs of our people.”
Representing WHO Zimbabwe, Dr. Desta Tiruneh echoed similar sentiments. He praised Zimbabwe’s commitment to hosting the meeting and lauded the collaboration between Africa CDC, the European Union, and other stakeholders working to strengthen public health systems across the region.
“Today, public health faces unprecedented challenges — from declining development assistance to complex emergencies,” Dr. Teruneh said. “This gathering provides a rare and vital opportunity to mobilise political commitment, pool resources, and share experiences that strengthen both national health security and universal health coverage.”
He warned, however, that public health remains underfunded and deprioritised in many countries. Dr. Terune emphasised the role of NPHIs as national centres of expertise that can align efforts across ministries, provide rapid emergency response, and promote integrated preventive and promotive care within health systems.
“WHO remains firmly committed to supporting countries in strengthening essential public health functions,” he added, citing recently published WHO guidelines to be presented during the meeting.
Adding a technical dimension to the discourse, Dr. Talkmore Maruta of the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) underscored the importance of NPHIs in fortifying laboratory systems, surveillance networks, and diagnostic capacities.
“Our partnership with Africa CDC focuses on pathogen genomics, biosafety, AMR surveillance, and workforce development — all core pillars of a robust NPHI,” said Dr. Maruta. He explained that a functional NPHI provides a centralised platform for specialised services such as epidemiology, advocacy, laboratory science, and emergency coordination.
He cited recent findings by Africa CDC showing that while about 40% of AU countries have established NPHIs, only 18% are fully functional. “Countries dragging their feet are depriving their populations of critical public health services,” he said. “We must act swiftly.”
Dr. Maruta also pointed out that across the world, NPHIs go by various names — from Public Health Agencies to Centres for Disease Control — but all share a common function: to provide a centralised architecture for coordinating health responses and driving evidence-based policies.
The three-day event has drawn participation from representatives of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, and Zimbabwe — all of whom are at different stages in establishing their respective NPHIs. The meeting allows these countries to present their progress, share lessons, and receive technical guidance from peers and development partners.
As the Indaba continues, participants are expected to draft a shared roadmap that builds on Africa CDC’s previous action points, while also integrating feedback and strategies to overcome challenges in implementation. The outcome is expected to feed into broader AU health initiatives aimed at reinforcing health sovereignty and resilience.
For Zimbabwe, the hosting of this year’s meeting signals not only a commitment to regional solidarity but also a renewed focus on domestic public health reforms.
