KEY POINTS
- Zimbabwe at World Health Assembly prioritizes pandemic preparedness efforts.
- Zimbabwe at World Health Assembly urges support for vaccine affordability.
- Zimbabwe at World Health Assembly aligns local reforms with global goals.
At the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA), world health experts convened in Geneva to work together and take immediate action to solve urgent global health issues.
Zimbabwe at World Health Assembly pushes pandemic preparedness agenda
In order to examine global health priorities and negotiate significant multilateral healthcare agreements, the WHA convenes delegates from 194 WHO member states.
Under the direction of Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s delegation actively participated in talks regarding global equity issues, health financing, and pandemic preparedness.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke about global health system financing, mental health, and maternal health.
Negotiations on the pandemic agreement are still ongoing, according to Dr. Mombeshora, with the goal of ensuring resource parity and international cooperation for upcoming epidemics.
In order to provide support, Zimbabwe will meet with foreign donors such as The Global Fund and GAVI, the Minister underlined collaborations.
According to ZBC News, Zimbabwe aims to lower the cost of vaccines while adjusting to some traditional donor nations’ decreased contributions to global health.
Since diseases have killed more people than most recent military wars, Mombeshora urged world leaders to give them top priority.
One Health Strategy gains traction during global health talks
WHA78 is in line with Zimbabwe’s One Health Strategy for public health reform, according to Dr. Agnes Mahomva, the President’s Public Health Advisor.
In order to incorporate the lessons learnt during COVID-19 into long-term multi-sectoral public health planning, Zimbabwe is finalizing the strategy, she said.
Dr. Mahomva emphasized how Zimbabwe might connect its national changes with the most recent international health standards with the aid of the new global pandemic accord.
In his opening remarks at WHA78 on Monday, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros praised advancements but cautioned about the continued harm inequality causes to international health systems.
He urged immediate action to close gaps and create robust, inclusive health systems, especially in the Global South’s poorest nations.
Zimbabwe’s continued efforts to create a resilient healthcare system that can survive future global health shocks are strengthened by its participation in WHA78.
