Zimbabwe Conducts Second Joint External Evaluation to Strengthen National Health Security

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Reporter

Zimbabwe has recently concluded its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE), a key assessment of the country's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats. Held from June 29 to July 4, 2025, the process was led by the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other critical partners. This milestone represents a pivotal moment in Zimbabwe’s ongoing efforts to bolster national health security and align with international standards. The JEE is a voluntary, collaborative mechanism used globally every five years to evaluate a country’s preparedness under the International Health Regulations (2005). Zimbabwe first underwent the JEE in 2018, and this second round offers an updated snapshot of progress, new challenges, and areas requiring urgent investment.

Dr. Wenceslaus Nyamayaro, Acting Chief Director for Public Health at MoHCC, emphasized the importance of the evaluation, describing it as “a structured opportunity to check how ready we are to detect and respond to public health threats.” Over 100 participants were involved in the exercise, drawn from various sectors such as public health, veterinary services, civil protection, defense, and environmental management. Key development partners included WHO, UNICEF, FAO, and the Africa CDC. Zimbabwe's internal self-assessment covered 19 technical areas ranging from surveillance and biosafety to legislation and points of entry such as airports and borders. The comprehensive process helped identify both strengths and weaknesses in the country’s ability to handle health emergencies and outbreaks. Findings revealed several critical gaps. Many legal frameworks remain outdated or poorly implemented, especially at district and local levels. There were also notable gender equity concerns, such as limited funding for gender-based violence initiatives and minimal female representation in emergency decision-making bodies. Surveillance of foodborne and healthcare-associated infections was found to be fragmented, while coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors needs reinforcement.

Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity were also flagged as weak spots, particularly in infrastructure and personnel training. Additionally, readiness at key points of entry—such as border posts—was found to be limited, with a need for better screening and rapid response capacity. Despite the challenges, Zimbabwe’s commitment to improvement was widely acknowledged. Dr. Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative to Zimbabwe, remarked that the evaluation was “about continuous improvement,” highlighting the country’s efforts to build stronger health systems through better data and coordination. The process is far from over. From September 6 to 13, 2025, Zimbabwe will host an external validation mission led by WHO experts, who will visit key sites to confirm findings from the self-assessment phase. These evaluations will inform the next iteration of the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), aimed at improving disease preparedness, outbreak response, and health systems resilience.

Dr. Agnes Mahomva, Public Health Advisor in the Office of the President and Cabinet, called the evaluation “a serious and honest introspection,” stressing that robust health security is foundational to national development. “A country that cannot respond to emergencies risks setbacks across all sectors,” she warned. Dr. Phillip Shambira, Chief Director of Preventive Services at MoHCC, added that aligning Zimbabwe’s public health strategy with international frameworks will help improve overall response capacity. “This is an opportunity to update our National Action Plan for Health Security in light of real-world progress and challenges,” he said. Funding for the JEE came primarily from the Health Resilience Fund through WHO, with additional contributions coordinated by MoHCC from Africa CDC and UNICEF. The process underscores the vital role of international collaboration in building strong, adaptive, and inclusive health systems. Zimbabwe’s second JEE comes at a crucial time when health security remains a global priority, shaped by lessons from COVID-19 and growing threats such as climate change and zoonotic diseases. The findings will help Zimbabwe proactively close existing gaps and enhance coordination across all levels of emergency response and disease surveillance.