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Health care industry

Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Support

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Zimbabwe has undertaken a significant step in strengthening its health infrastructure by revising its National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025-2030) with the support of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). This five-year plan aims to improve the country's laboratory systems by enhancing infrastructure, staffing, quality, and digital systems. The plan sets ambitious goals, including expanding Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to 80% of facilities, accrediting central, provincial, and district laboratories, and securing at least 70% of required funding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025-2030) was developed in partnership with Africa CDC and sets out to strengthen Zimbabwe's laboratory systems by improving infrastructure, staffing, quality, and digital systems.
  • The plan includes key goals such as expanding LIMS to 80% of facilities, accrediting central, provincial, and district laboratories, and securing at least 70% of required funding.
  • Experts from across Africa praised Zimbabwe's revised plan for its strategic scope, alignment with international standards, and potential to drive investment in resilient laboratory systems.
  • The plan introduces new elements such as a One Health approach, public-private partnerships, and the use of AI and digital tools.
  • Dr. Donewell Bangure, Senior Epidemiologist coordinating Africa CDC's Quality Management Systems Program, emphasized the significance of a robust Laboratory Strategic Plan in building resilient health systems capable of addressing both current and emerging public health threats.
  • Zimbabwe's new plan has been praised by experts as a model for how African countries can build resilient laboratory systems aligned with international standards.

Statistics:

  • 80% of facilities are expected to have expanded Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
  • 70% of required funding is expected to be secured for the implementation of the strategic plan.
  • The new plan sets out to achieve a significant expansion in the country's laboratory infrastructure and digital systems.
  • Zimbabwe's previous National Laboratory Strategic Plan expired in 2021, and the new plan will replace it with a broader, more coordinated strategy to respond to current and future public health threats.

Sources:

  • M2 PRESSWIRE (May 19, 2025) - "Zimbabwe Revamps Labs Plan with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support"
  • World Health Organization (WHO) - support cited in the article for the Africa CDC
  • Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) - cited in the article for their support and collaboration with Zimbabwe on the laboratory plan
  • Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Zimbabwe - cited in the article as a partner in the development of the new laboratory plan

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