Story by Tichaona Kurewa
EMBRACING innovation to transform the health sector took centre stage as the 2025 Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) Conference.
Day One of the conference highlighted a bold shift in Zimbabwe’s health sector, driven by artificial intelligence, homegrown solutions and cross-sector collaboration.
From digital health technologies to local pharmaceutical manufacturing, the engagement explored how global advancements and local ingenuity can converge to create a resilient healthcare system.
“This kind of technology should be adopted among the country’s citizens. Early screening using AI can detect diseases before its too late, avoiding high treatment costs and saving lives,” the Co-Founder of CarePlix Healthcare, Mr Subhabrata Paul,
“I recommend that we digitise all health records from different hospitals into one national database. This will help us track patients, predict health trends, and be proactive in managing diseases like HIV or potential outbreaks. For example, if in Mutoko there is usually an outbreak in October, AI will help prepare resources and health workers in advance,” Mimshack Royal Heritage, South Africa’s representative, Dr Joyline Josamu added.
The need to reduce reliance on imported medical supplies also took centre stage, with stakeholders calling for full utilisation of the Heritage-based Education 5.0 Model to drive industrialisation and self-reliance in healthcare.
“We are importing IV fluids that are 95% water. Why can’t we produce the 1% that matters here? That is the kind of innovation Zimbabwe needs,” University of Zimbabwe Health Innovation Hub’s Professor Florence Mtambanengwe noted.
The conference is a high-level platform convened to enhance collaborations and partnerships to improve the healthcare sector.
“The purpose of this conference is to bring all the various stakeholders under one roof to discuss emerging issues affecting the healthcare sector. We believe many of the challenges we face can be resolved through collaboration and partnerships,” AHFoZ Chief Executive Officer Ms. Shylet Sanyanga
Delegates to the conference contend Zimbabwe has the potential to leap forward through embracing innovation as a blueprint for health transformation.
