By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe officially marked the successful conclusion of its flagship health initiative, the Zimbabwe COVID-19 Response and Essential Health Services Project (ZCREHSP), during a handover and close-out ceremony held yesterday in Harare.
The event showcased key milestones achieved and emphasized the country’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system for long-term resilience and equity.
Launched in April 2022, ZCREHSP was financed by the World Bank and the Global Financing Facility (GFF), and implemented by humanitarian organization Cordaid. The project significantly contributed to rebuilding Zimbabwe’s health infrastructure and services.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Hon. Sleiman T. Kwidini, speaking on behalf of Minister Dr. Douglas T. Mombeshora, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to achieving universal health coverage through innovation and inclusive service delivery.
“This is not the end, but the beginning of a new phase, one built on resilience, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. The momentum we have gained must be sustained if Zimbabwe is to meet its health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” he said.
He highlighted that over 278,000 people in underserved communities gained access to healthcare through integrated outreach services. The project also trained more than 2,000 health workers in using Go.Data for outbreak tracking and mentored 848 health facilities in electronic health records.
Additionally, Zimbabwe’s National Microbiology Reference Laboratory was equipped with a genomic sequencing platform, advancing regional disease surveillance.
Hon. Kwidini praised frontline health workers and community members for their dedication, stating, “We owe the progress we are celebrating today to the unwavering dedication of those who stood at the frontlines day after day in clinics, communities, and in crisis.”
Cordaid’s East and Southern Africa Regional Director, Ms. Heleen van der Beek, expressed appreciation to the Zimbabwean government for its support, crediting collaboration for the project’s success.
“None of this would have been possible without the trust placed in us by the Government of Zimbabwe and the World Bank,” she said.
She also thanked health workers and community leaders for their role in transforming interventions into tangible improvements.
World Bank Country Manager, Ms. Eneida Fernandes, emphasized the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems.
“Looking ahead, we must focus on enhancing primary health care services, expanding access to specialized care, and improving health infrastructure, especially in underserved regions,” she stated.
Fernandes called for increased partnerships across sectors and investments in health information systems to enable evidence-based planning and monitoring.
Zimbabwe’s response to the COVID – 19 pandemic was heralded as a success and the the event underscored Zimbabwe’s ongoing commitment to building resilient health systems and ensuring no one is left behind in the pursuit of better health for all and the country is readied in case of another pandemic of COVID – 19’s magnitude.