Africa CDC–SARCC Supports Zimbabwe’s Drive to Establish National Public Health Institute, Taps Zambia’s Expertise By Raymond Enoch
Zimbabwe has taken a major step toward strengthening its national health security architecture, following a high-level benchmarking visit to the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), coordinated by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) through its Southern Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (SARCC).
The visit brought together senior Zimbabwean health officials and technical experts to study Zambia’s experience in establishing and operationalising its National Public Health Institute (NPHI), which is widely recognised as a regional model for disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, and coordinated public health response.
Officials described the engagement as timely and strategic, offering valuable practical insights into governance structures, legal frameworks, workforce development, and sustainable financing—critical pillars for Zimbabwe’s proposed NPHI. Members of the delegation emphasised the need to adapt these lessons to Zimbabwe’s national context while remaining aligned with Africa’s broader health security priorities.
Beyond institutional learning, the benchmarking mission underscored the growing importance of South–South cooperation in Africa’s public health landscape, as countries increasingly leverage regional expertise to build resilient systems capable of responding effectively to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.
Africa CDC, through SARCC, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Member States in strengthening national public health institutions, enhancing coordinated regional action, and advancing the continent’s collective preparedness and response capacities.
As Zimbabwe advances plans to establish its National Public Health Institute, the benchmarking visit signals renewed momentum toward building a stronger, more integrated public health system—one that not only safeguards national health outcomes but also contributes meaningfully to regional and continental health security.
