Dr Marisa’s speech at ZCTA fourth edition

Good Evening

All protocol observed !

It is indeed an honour to stand before you on this special day. Let me hasten to thank the organizers   of this prestigious event, Dr Nigel Chanakira, Mr Albert Masaka, Dr  Marisa, Mrs Masaka, Tariro Masunda and many others whose names I cannot mention.

I am delighted to note that 2024 awards are putting special consideration on health as highlighted on the theme ‘Promoting a healthy and mutually supportive community’ and it is indeed undeniable that health and development are symbiotic in nature.

For long medical practitioners have been excluded from events like this, but Perfection Media took the initiative to include medical practitioners in the awards nomination processes.

Today, we have a whole array of trailblazers who include teachers, economists, artists, doctors, nurses, engineers to mention just but a few.

Medical practitioners showed their prudence, resilience, diligence, amity especially during the peak of the recent deadly covid-19 pandemic, where at least 6,970 million people lost their lives globally. Zimbabwe defied all odds, witnessing around 5731 people who succumbed to the deadly virus since 31 December 2019 when the virus was first detected in Wuhan Province of China.

We thank the Government of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care, both public and private health practitioners for standing tall against the pandemic

Today, we have a cholera outbreak which has so far claimed at least 310 lives since its index cases in Chegutu on 12 February 2023. It is my advice that all key stakeholders in the fight against cholera continue with their collaborative efforts. You as patients should observe proper hygiene, Councils should strengthen water and sanitation infrastructure while Government continues to play an oversight role. The World Health Organization in 2007 came up with a model of Health Delivery system which has six pillars or building blocks. These pillars include adequate financing, health workforce, medicines, governance, health information systems & service delivery. It is therefore prudent to increase health financing in a bid to curb brain drain which is threatening the health sector as more than 5000 healthcare workers are said to have migrated to greener pastures in the past 24 months.   

It does not mean that those who are not part of us here did not excel in their areas but we cannot accommodate everyone at ones. Tomorrow will be their day. As for the medical practitioners who are awarded today, we should at least appreciate that these practitioners worked hard in different medical disciplines which include laboratories, nursing homes, clinics and hospitals, pharmacy etc . It is not about the fanciness of health infrastructure some might have, but what the communities are benefiting which may be through health education, health promotion, corporate social responsibility, philanthropic work to mention just but a few. We have cadres who have significantly contributed to the health sector in unique ways.

Professor Jacob Mufunda (Current Dean at GZU Medical School) is one such man who has put his hand on three medical schools that train medical students, namely UZ, Midlands State University and currently GZU Simon Mazorodze School of Medical and Health Sciences where he is the Dean of Medicine.

We have the likes of Dr Nyasha Masuka, a renowned medical doctor who has dedicated the whole of his life to serving Zimbabwe. He is one of the two doctors remaining in his class of 1996 as the rest have left for greener pastures. He held important portfolios in both the public and private sectors.

We have the innovation guru, Dr Vivek Solanki, a medical practitioner par excellence who is the centre of Zimbabwe Medical Tourism with his magnificent Borrowdale Trauma Centre. I see no reason why some of us here should seek medical attention outside Zimbabwe yet we have such state-of-the heart healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe.

Dr Ingrid Landmann has gone out of her way in her endeavour to improve women’s health and she remains a heroine of medical excellence.

Dr Mike Joka has remained resilient in the last decade, rising from a mere small surgery to establish some of the best healthcare facilities in Zimbabwe that trade as Corporate 24.

We have Sister Veronica Zimunhu, owner of Queen of Peace Hospital in Hatfield, a nurse who rose to stardom when she established her private hospital at a time it was a taboo for nurses to do so. Today, she boasts of thousands of maternity deliveries, some mothers deliver at her hospital free of charge.

We have laboratory scientists like Dr Henry Dandadzi of the Interpath laboratories, a man who has worked tirelessly and was one of the first scientists to carry out Covid-19 tests in the country.

Westview Clinic has assisted many artists, vulnerable members of the society who include the disabled, orphans to access free medical care. The level of Corporate Social Responsibility is amazing.

Seasons Pharmaceuticals Company has excelled as it checks the health of the country by maintaining stock of the important drugs that the country requires. We say thank you lots.

We will not forget Dr Emmanuel Sithole, Dr Simango, Dr Innocent Gozho, Tinevimbo Matambanadzo, Stone River Funeral Services and the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe for the trailblazing works you continue to do.

 The same is said of journalists and those that advance community and national health interests. Not everyone will get an award but your continued efforts cannot go unnoticed. You have been at the forefront of disseminating information which is a catalyst for robust action. Always avoid misinformation and disinformation as these can be a serious recipe for health catastrophe. We scrutinize what you report, taking down notes and regurgitate to evaluate societal impact.

I want to wish you the best of moments as proceedings flow today.

Thank you