Health Ministry in new initiative

THE Health and Child Care Ministry will this week roll out an interactive programme on sustainable health systems in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The first port of call is Chikwakwa in Mashonaland East where officials will engage the community on matters affecting them, including women’s health, reproductive rights, mental health and men’s issues.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said a symposium had been organised in collaboration with the Goromonzi Rural District Council, the University of Zimbabwe, the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), the UK Economic and Social Research Council, and the Overseas Development Institute.

Dr Fortunate Machingura from the University of Manchester; the ministry’s Principal Director (Preventive Services) Dr Gibson Mhlanga; the UZ’s Dr Gerald Shambira and Goromonzi district medical officer Dr Tapiwa Gwinji are leading the initiative.

The statement reads, “The symposium theme will focus on Sustainable Development Goal 3 - ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. The community-wide SDG 3 symposium aims to begin a conversation on the meaning of SDG 3, and its attendant targets along with strengthening the role of active community participation and social accountability in health - towards the achievement of SDGs.

“Placing the SDG agenda at community level, and especially in the rural context, builds on several national targets across sectors, including social, economic and environmental development. The achievement of the SDGs requires, therefore, to continue placing communities at the centre as they play a significant role not just in receiving the services they need, but also in co-production of these services and their funding and governance.”