€4.2M Boost for Zimbabwe’s Public Health Infrastructure from EU and WHO

Zimbabwe has secured a €4.2 million (approximately R85.6 million) funding package from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the creation of a National Public Health Institute (NPHI), government officials announced this week.

The funding, intended to span four years, was publicly confirmed through official social media posts by WHO Zimbabwe and the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe on 7 and 8 July 2025, respectively.

“WHO and the EU have entered into a €4.2M agreement to support the formation of Zimbabwe’s National Public Health Institute,” stated WHO Zimbabwe via its X (formerly Twitter) account.

“The NPHI will carry out vital public health roles and help build a more resilient national health system. We thank the EU Delegation for their valuable support.”

Echoing this sentiment, the EU Delegation noted:

“We are partnering with WHO Zimbabwe to assist in launching Zimbabwe’s NPHI. This EU-funded initiative will also encourage collaboration with other African nations and European partners to create stronger, people-centred healthcare systems.”

This development follows Zimbabwe’s recent hosting of the 4th Regional National Public Health Institute Meeting for Southern Africa, held at the Harare International Conference Centre from 25 to 27 June 2025.

Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, who opened the event, emphasized the crucial role NPHIs play in national and regional health policy development.

“National Public Health Institutes are the scientific backbone of evidence-driven health policy and decision-making,” he said.

“We firmly believe in the necessity of creating an NPHI in Zimbabwe. The political will is there, and I will advocate for additional funding to see it established.”

Dr. Lul Riek, Regional Director at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), addressed the continent’s vulnerability to health emergencies like COVID-19, Marburg, and Mpox, calling for African-led solutions:

“Africa’s health resilience must be built from within—by Africans, for Africans,” he said.

Dr. Talkmore Maruta, representing the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM), referenced findings from a 2023 Africa CDC report, revealing that only 22 African countries (40%) had established NPHIs at the time, and just 18 (33%) were considered fully operational.

“Until we achieve widespread health system capacity, none of us is truly safe,” he said, urging governments to prioritize investments in health infrastructure and governance.

The high-level meeting brought together delegates from the WHO, Africa CDC, SADC member states, and other partners, focusing on key themes such as disease surveillance, diagnostic readiness, response coordination, and training of public health personnel.

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