Vice-President Kembo Mohadi has challenged newly qualified obstetricians and gynaecologists to remain in the region and use their expertise to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Speaking at the inaugural graduation ceremony of the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ECSACOG) in Harare today, Vice President Mohadi said the graduation of 19 specialists, including 12 Zimbabweans, demonstrated the importance of regional cooperation in developing African expertise.
“ECSACOG is a powerful example of this principle. African countries working together to build African expertise for African people,” he said.
Mohadi said the establishment of the college fulfilled a vision conceived almost a decade ago when ECSA Health Community ministers resolved to create a regional institution dedicated to strengthening specialist capacity in obstetrics and gynaecology.
“I commend the college’s leadership, council, faculty and partners for turning the vision into an institution capable of producing specialists while allowing health professionals to train within the region and continue contributing to their communities,”he said.
The Vice-President said Zimbabwe had made significant progress in reducing maternal deaths, with the maternal mortality ratio declining from 651 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2015 to 212 in 2024.
“We welcome this progress, but we must not become complacent. Women and newborns across East, Central and Southern Africa continued to die from preventable causes due to inadequate access to timely and quality healthcare,”Vice President warned.
He said investment in human resources for health was critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage, strengthening health security and accelerating development across the continent.
“Zimbabwe signed the Health Workforce Investment Compact in October 2024 alongside implementation of its Health Workforce Strategy, reaffirming Government’s commitment to recruiting, developing, deploying, motivating and retaining health workers,”he added.
Mohadi said the 19 graduates represented more than academic achievement, describing them as additional specialists whose skills and leadership could save lives and strengthen health systems.
He urged the graduates not to abandon their communities in search of opportunities abroad.
“Our people need you here. By all means, learn from the world. Collaborate with the world. Participate in global medicine.
But do not be too quick to cross oceans in search of opportunities while the women and children of your own communities are waiting for your expertise,” he said.
He challenged the specialists to become leaders, mentors, teachers and advocates for women and children while strengthening health institutions.
“Let your knowledge save mothers. Let your skills protect newborns. Let your leadership inspire the next generation,” Mohadi said.
The establishment of ECSACOG demonstrated what African countries could achieve by working together.
