Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. HEALTH and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora has affirmed Zimbabwe’s readiness to harness scientific innovation in strengthening both HIV prevention and the overall safety and resilience of its health system.
Speaking during the official launch of the new Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) blood-screening platform at the National Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) headquarters, Mombeshora hailed the transformative advancement in protecting the health and lives of the people of Zimbabwe.
“This moment is not merely a technical achievement, it is a national milestone that reflects our shared commitment to safeguarding the lives of our citizens,” he said.
“Blood is a unique and irreplaceable medicine. It cannot be manufactured, it must be freely and voluntarily donated.
“Because of its immense value, it must be safeguarded through the highest standards of science, quality and care.”
Mombeshora said with the introduction of NAT, Zimbabwe takes a decisive step forward in ensuring that every unit of blood transfused in health facilities meets the highest possible standards of safety that modern technology can provide.
“Our National Blood Programme remains among the safest globally and we take pride in having been one of the first nations worldwide to introduce routine HIV screening of donated blood as early as 1987. Science continues to advance and so must we.
“The introduction of NAT builds upon our strong foundation by detecting viral genetic material much earlier, dramatically reducing the diagnostic window and minimising the risk of infection transmission.”
NAT enables earlier and more sensitive detection of transfusion-transmissible infections, including HIV, thereby strengthening blood safety in line with international best practice.
Also speaking at the event, National Aids Council (NAC) chief executive officer Bernard Madzima said the collaboration between the Health ministry, NAC, NBSZ and the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is a step in the national response to HIV.
He described the development as a key milestone in the shared commitment to safeguarding the lives of Zimbabweans and strengthening the integrity of the national response to HIV.
“The decision by NAC to purchase this equipment was driven by a clear and urgent need to ensure that every unit of blood collected and transfused in Zimbabwe is safe, reliable, and free from HIV and other transfusion-transmissible infections,” Madzima said.
“Blood safety remains a cornerstone of public health, and in the context of HIV, it is a critical intervention.
“By investing in NAT, we are embracing the most advanced technology available globally, to detect infections earlier and with greater accuracy than conventional methods.”
He said the investment reflects NAC’s mandate to co-ordinate and strengthen the national response to HIV.
“It is about protecting patients, supporting our health institutions and reinforcing public confidence in our blood services, knowing that every transfusion is backed by the highest standards of safety.
“Blood safety has always been part of the various methods of HIV prevention in use in Zimbabwe, through which the country has achieved global acclaim for effectively reducing both the HIV incidence and prevalence over the years.
“In addition to this, our treatment coverage has broadened with ripple effects on HIV prevention, both contributing to the surpassing of the 95-95-95 global targets we achieved before the target date of 2025.”
NBSZ chief executive officer Lucy Marowa said the donation of the Nucleic Acid Testing platform from NAC as well as the 10 000 blood bags from Potraz will serve the nation.
“We will do the best we can in our corner,” she said.
“When the government, public and partners come together we can do great things and today is testament to that.”
For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe Follow Africa-Press
