Education a key to success as HIPH caps 156 Graduands

By Edward Makuzva

A total of 156 Harare Institute of Public Health (HIPH), class of 2022 students on Saturday graduated with certificates after completion of their studies in pharmacy technicians, public health practioners and dispensary assistants in the capital.

In his opening remarks, HIPH principal Dr Amos Marume added that since the first graduation ceremony that was held on the 22nd of October 2022, the institution has seen many significant developments in its efforts to complement the second republic’ s vision and objectives.

” As an academic institution all our developments are guided by education 5.0, health for all by 2030, building the country brick by brick mantras among others.

” Our brick is in public health we will not sleep as what the Harare part of the Institute’ s name implies till we as a country are on map when it comes to strong public health systems “, Dr Marume explained.

Dr Marume highlighted that the heritage- based solutions thrust being fronted by our ministry is also one of our important guiding principles.

The veteran HIPH principal added that the institution has established four (4 ) schools namely, the school of Community health now with the first ever class of NC Public Health in Zimbabwe graduating today.

The School of Pharmacy which added NC Pharmacy Technician graduands today to the NC Dispensary Assistant growing list of graduands.

School of Nursing which has produced many nurse aides this year.

School of business apart from contributing to the general economic development the school is a very good platform to ensure our health care professionals have access to key business, leadership and management skills.
Dr Marume said this has led to tremendous increases in student numbers and has also helped us a lot as a relatively young institution of higher learning and research.
He added that the growth has seen us establishing a second campus here in Harare( the Gowero House campus) , a campus in Gweru and another one coming up in Bulawayo.

” HIPH as was promised last year has also established a data center for disease surveillance and drug discovery and/ or development based on mathematical modelling. The cancer center will help us predict the future in terms of public health in Zimbabwe.
“The mathematical modelling, we are working on together with expects outside Zimbabwe will contribute towards reducing costs of drug discovery and development processes which is expected to drive prices down and enhance access to quality essential medicines.
” HIPH with significant support from the local pharmaceutical sector and the regulator is setting up a bioequivalence center to aid local production of pharmaceuticals as well as conduct clinical trials. The trials will also including herbal medicines “,said Dr Marume.
Dr Marume revealed that HIPH has developed and collaborated with local and international institutions to offer various professional development courses relevant to strengthen our health systems such as Leadership and Management in Health, Clinical Management of HIV, Health and Economics, Implementation Research etc.

The HIPH Principal added that the institute has expanded its capacity on many fronts and both in online and physical spaces.

Dr Marume highlighted that two of our campuses have facilities that ensures our students have access to Internet 24/7the same facilities are coming to every one of our campuses and/ or offices.

He said HIPH has increased its pool of expects, access to libraries and databases among other facilities to enhance our academic capacity.

Chief director Human Capital Planning and Skills Development in the ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology, Professor Norman Rudhumbu reading the speech on behalf of minister Prof Amon Murwira said the key objective as a ministry is to align Higher and Tertiary education to solve Zimbabwe’s challenges.

” We firmly believe in homegrown heritage- based solutions towards resolving local languages. This is the basis behind the Heritage Based Education 5.0 design, a five – mission model of teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialization established to move the country forward towards an innovation- led and acknowledge – driven economy.
“Under Heritage Based Education 5.0 institutions of Higher learning as demonstrated by what we are witnessing today must focus on outcomes- focused national development activities towards a competitive, modern and industrialised Zimbabwe,” Prof Murwira explained.
Prof Murwira hailed HIPH for creating home grown solutions the provision of health labour force in the country.

Prof Murwira added that public health practitioners have a significant impact on individual and community health working to prevent and control diseases as well as improving quality of life by promoting healthy behaviors and ensuring access to quality care.

“To our graduands, the field of public health and pharmacy practice has evolved from classical medical practice to recognizing other key players in the value chains.

“You have started a journey that will see you all contributing to the advancement of public health and socioeconomic development in Zimbabwe,” Prof Murwira added.