Gweru (New Ziana)- The opening of the Midlands State University (MSU) National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre will scale up the provision of universal quality health services to citizens as well as access to pathology and diagnostic services, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking during the official opening of the MSU National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre and launch of Education 5.0 Complaint Programmes, President Mnangagwa said the centre further highlights the Second Republic’s determination to address the shortage of local pathologists by creating specialist training services.
“The new centre is set to increase access to pathology and diagnostic services to a cross-section of people here in the Midlands and indeed throughout the country,” he said.
“It will also support and inform affordable quality medical and laboratory practice.”
The establishment of the centre, he said, is envisaged to drive the local manufacturing of laboratory reagents and point of care devices.
He said the university must move swiftly to develop and grow high end capabilities for disease surveillance, control and prevention to counter present and future disease threats.
He exhorted MSU to provide appropriate and holistic contemporary services to develop competent pathology practitioners.
The President said pathologists from the centre will establish research in partnership with other medical institutions from across the world.
“I challenge the university and its stakeholders to make concerted plans to grow this facility to become a regional centre of excellence.
“To this end, the appropriate leadership, mentorship, training, examination and accreditation must be pursued towards the churning out of clinicians who meet world class standards,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said government will provide material and financial resources for the success of the centre and similar medical facilities.
“Ultimately, our policies in the health sector must see Zimbabwe becoming a medical tourism hub.
“This must see the improved health and well being of our people in line with the aspirations articulated in the National Development Strategy and our National Vision 2030,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said under the Second Republic, universities and other institutions of higher learning were actualising teaching, research, community engagement, innovation and industrialisation as articulated in the Education 5.0 philosophy.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the MSU National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre is part of the bold statement of the country’s intention through Heritage Based Education 5.0 to develop the country through homegrown solutions.
He said the centre was built through government funding in record time.
Prof Murwira said the national strategic intent is for an upper middle-income economy by 2030 which translates to the removal of the people from poverty through development of the necessary national capabilities through knowledge and innovation.
“We know that 21st century national development is anchored on key national capabilities in science innovation and technology. To this end, this MSU National Pathology Research and Diagnostics Centre is part of the Ecosystem of Science and Technology centres that we are building across our country in the Second Republic,” he said.
Prof Murwira said President Mnangagwa’s leadership in the establishment of innovation hubs, industrial parks, key research institutions across universities is a testimony that he has been able to articulate Zimbabwe’s demands from higher and tertiary education science and technology sector.
New Ziana
