Permanent Secretary for Health and Child Care, Dr Aspect Maunganidze, is chairing a crucial World Health Organization (WHO) committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly scheduled to begin on 18 May.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said Dr Maunganidze is presiding over the WHO Executive Board’s Programme Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC) meetings running from 12 to 15 May 2026.
“The Secretary for Health and Child Care is in Geneva where he is chairing the WHO’s Executive Board Committee of Programme Budget and Administration Committee from 12 to 15 May 2026,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry described the committee as one of the WHO’s most important governance structures, tasked with ensuring the global health body maintains sound financial management, transparency and accountability.
“The Programme Budget and Administration Committee (PBAC) is a crucial committee that supports the Executive Board by reviewing WHO’s programme budget, financial oversight, administration, governance and human resource matters.
It provides detailed scrutiny and recommendations to help ensure that the World Health Organization operates efficiently, transparently and in line with its strategic priorities,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry added that “The committee’s work is essential in ensuring the WHO remains aligned with its strategic objectives while responding effectively to emerging global health challenges.”
The meeting comes at a critical time for the WHO as member states prepare for deliberations at the World Health Assembly, the organisation’s highest decision-making body, where governments from across the globe will discuss pressing international health issues, financing and future policy direction.
Zimbabwe’s chairing of the influential committee places the country at the centre of global health governance discussions and reflects growing recognition of the country’s contribution to international health administration.
