Harare Institute of Public Health establishes dise...

Harare Institute of Public Health establishes disease surveillance data centre

Munyaradzi Doma

The Harare Institute of Public Health has established a state-of-the art data centre for disease surveillance and drug discovery/development, a move which the government has described as a game-changer.

The institution delivered on its promise which was made last year and now the facility is to deliver the much needed service of disease surveillance at a time the country has been battling with containment of several diseases.

Making the announcement recently during their second graduation ceremony, HIPH principal, Dr Amos Marume said this was one of several technologies they will set up so as to help improve the public health system in the country.

“HIPH, as was promised last year, has also established a data centre for disease surveillance and drug discovery and or development based on mathematical modelling.

“The centre will help us predict the future in terms of public health threats and help advance evidence-based public health in Zimbabwe.

“The mathematical modelling we are working on together with experts outside Zimbabwe, will contribute towards reducing costs (in terms of both time and money) of drug discovery and development processes which is expected to drive prices down and enhance access to quality essential medicines,” revealed Dr Marume

Dr Marume further revealed that with local support from partners, they are setting up a bioequivalence centre to help local production of pharmaceuticals as well as conduct clinical trials.

He added that the trials will also include herbal medicines.

Government has hailed HIPH’s technologies as it revealed that they will go a long way in improving disease prevention and control.

Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation Science and Technology Development, Professor Doctor Amon Murwira in a speech read on his behalf by his ministry’s Chief Director Human Capital Planning and Skills Development, Professor Norman Rudhumbu, said the establishment of the center was coming at a right time as expected implementation soon.

“I have been informed by the Principal Dr Amos Marume about the data center for public health surveillance and mathematical modelling for drug discovery and development as well as the bioequivalence and clinical trials laboratory being championed by the Institute.

“These technologies are indeed game changers in public health. World over, in the advent of significant public health threats like Covid-19, drug resistant bugs and many more predictive sciences in public health have become a very important branch in provision of health.

“The capacity for early detection of disease outbreaks, at-risk populations and communities and the causes will help us as policymakers to confront health emergencies timely before they spiral out of control,” said Prof Murwira.

He said the project will go a long way to assist in disease prevention and control.

Speaking of the bioequivalence laboratory, Prof Murwira said it was a “ground breaking development which is critical in terms of promoting local drug development or manufacturing initiatives, contributing to enhanced access to affordable pharmaceutical drugs in Zimbabwe”, he added.

A total of 156 HIPH Class of 2022 students graduated after completing their studies as public health practitioners, pharmacy technicians and dispensary assistants.