THE Government has given the go ahead for the opening of a private research and training centre for pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in Bulawayo as it moves to close the gap of critical staff shortage in the health services sector.
The move is also meant to complement its efforts in developing home-grown solutions that will result in improved health and well-being of all people, as articulated in the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030.
The African Centre for Global Health Innovation and Research (ACGHIR) is the second private research and training centre for pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in the country after Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH) which opened in 2019.
It is registered with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development and Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) and accredited with the Pharmacists Council of Zimbabwe (PCZ).
Speaking to Sunday News, ACGHIR founding director Mr Lemson Machibiza, a certified implementation research scientist, pharmaceutical and supply chain management expert said the setting up of the school was a historical moment for Bulawayo as it highlights the Second Republic’s determination to leave no one and no place behind in national development as well as to address skills and capacity building in the country’s health sector.
“We are so excited to have set up this facility in Bulawayo. Not only does it demonstrate our sustained commitment to invest in Bulawayo but it also aligns well with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 which seeks to create an upper middle-income economy and the Second Republic’s determination to address the shortage of health professionals in the country.
“As per the President’s thrust on devolution which is in line with the vision of development that leaves no one and no place behind and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) policy, ACGHIR seeks to ensure availability of equitable research and training opportunities in the country’s southern region which covers Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo provinces which previously didn’t have such facilities and of course the rest of the country, “said Mr Machibiza.
He said as an institution they were also committed to the provision of proper, accredited and recognised professional training in the health sector, as exemplified in the National Health Policy.
“Our vision is to spearhead such global health innovation and training in the southern region of Zimbabwe initially, entire Sadc region and ultimately Africa at large as our name depicts thereby impacting the entire continent and ensure our country’s high literacy rate translates to innovative global health solutions.
“As a result, ACGHIR partners and collaborates with Government departments, NGOs, training institutions, private and public health institutions for innovative and sustainable global health solutions through consultancy, research, training and capacity building,” said Mr Machibiza.
While the country has suffered the loss of critical skills over the past years, the Second Republic is focused on fostering transformative and inclusive development in line with the aspirations of Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve an empowered upper-middle-income economy.
Mr Machibiza said the institution will train students for a professional career as pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in a community or healthcare setting, or in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory bodies, or an academic environment.
“The training school is not only devoted to addressing the current shortage of pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in the country but also makes the profession accessible to everyone across the country and the achievement of universal health coverage, assisting pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in both public and private sectors.
We are really proud to be one of the first private training schools for pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants in the country run by a board of directors comprising professors of health, pharmacists, gender specialists among other experts. We are thriving on building multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaboration across the international, regional and national divides for innovative and sustainable global health solutions,” said Mr Machibiza.
He said for them to speak to the national vision of moving towards industrialised and modernised upper middle-income by 2030 and complement Government efforts in the provision of accessible and affordable health care services, there was an urgent need for land to build a state-of-the-art institution that will go a long in enhancing the country’s health system.
“For us to have a state-of-the-art institution, we are engaging the Bulawayo City Council for premises and land for medicinal cannabis research, training, production and processing in a quest to bring the industrial hub status of Bulawayo back to glory through reviving the pharmaceutical industry as well as pioneering medicinal cannabis training, research, production, processing and export,” said Mr Machibiza. – Sunday News
