Sector wide approach in health policy response and framework in Zimbabwe

The discourse is on the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) in health, a policy reform intervention by the World Health Organization, and focuses on Zimbabwe’s response, and the subsequent health policy framework. A SWAp is a government led partnership with donor agencies and the civil society, in the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the health policy. The rationale is to systematically build the capacity of health delivery systems and structures, for the realization health policy objectives through effective and efficient utilization of collaboratively mobilized resources for the realization of sustainable development in health. Zimbabwe has responded to SWAps by adopting the WHO Country Cooperation Strategy (2008-2013), being implemented through the National Health Strategy (2009-2013). A collaborative approach involving the state and civil society is being pursued. Within this arrangement, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is leading the strategic and operational function, at all levels of society, with the donor community, through the civil society playing a supportive role particularly in areas which include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, water and sanitation, and maternal health. Coordination is done through the National Planning Forum, made up of the health ministry and the voluntary sector, and the Health Development Partners Coordination Group, made up of donor agencies in health, in line with the Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework and the Interagency Humanitarian Coordination Mechanism. It was concluded that a framework has been put in place through which the SWAp is being pursued, towards systematic capacity building of Zimbabwe’s health sector

Occupational hazards, injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mining: case of Ward 19, Zvishavane, Zimbabwe

The paper sought to identify major occupational hazards, establish causes and nature of physical injuries and illnesses associated with small scale gold mines in Zvishavane. Three out of eleven identified mines from ward 19 were randomly selected for the study. Juxtaposed with observations, questionnaires were administered to all 34 mine employees in the respective mines to identify the types of hazards in the mines. Interviews were then conducted with three mine owners from each mine to establish the mines status quo with regards to injuries and illnesses. It was revealed that dust; heat, humidity, tools and equipment were the common hazards in all the mines. Substandard maintenance of tools and equipment as well as working under the influence of alcohol were identified as the major causes of injuries. These injuries included, among others, 20% lacerations, 20% cuts and 17 % crushes. The main reported illnesses were pneumoconiosis related due to the dusty environments the workers were always exposed to. The paper therefore advocates for more financial support from the mine owners towards employees’ safety in order to ensure a health and vibrant workforce for sustainability in production. Fundamental training programmes should be put in place to educate particularly the mine owners on the ultimate accrued benefits of safety on the employee and the nation at large

A TOGAF based interoperable health information system needs assessment for practitioner–patient interaction

eHealth systems have been created in most developing countries to facilitate the functioning of healthcare operations and as such various healthcare applications are existing as fragmented silo systems. Such autonomous standalone systems do not communicate through a network thereby making it a challenge to share healthcare data. Therefore, to re-engineer health information systems (HISs) to develop interoperable adaptive enterprise architecture (EA) systems for healthcare, the study aimed to discover and capture healthcare interoperability functional imperatives through understanding the expectations of healthcare practitioners and patients on post-development of an interoperable HIS. Therefore, the study's aim was to determine the HISs interoperability perceived functional expectations by both patients and practitioners in fulfilling their healthcare receipt and provision needs in an integrated healthcare environment, respectively. The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) was used as the main study framework to guide the classification of the expectations from the HIS by patients and practitioners deriving the needs from the four domains which are, business architecture (BA), application architecture (AA), data architecture (DA), and technical architecture. The study used interviews and questionnaire surveys to collect qualitative and quantitative data respectively. The study used purposive sampling to select interview participants. A total of 19 interviews were conducted with healthcare practitioners. Questionnaires were collected from 71 healthcare practitioners and 143 patients and analyzed quantitatively respectively to understand the most significant needs anticipated in an interoperable HIS. The research targeted age groups of at least 20 years and above. The study discovered that patients and practitioners expect the interoperable healthcare environment to support the acquisition of disease knowledge through healthcare surveillance synergies; create healthcare awareness through coordinated digital interactions; augmentation of healthcare intelligence for patient-care through the healthcare knowledgebase; allow treatment collaboration by various healthcare practitioners in the healthcare ecosystem and mostly achieving a guaranteed healthcare system security and assurance environment

Assessment of the effect of resource allocation on digital transformation in the Zimbabwean life insurance industry

The present study attempts to assess the effect of resource allocation on digital transformation in the Zimbabwean Life insurance industry. The study used a positivist research philosophy and a quantitative research approach. Data was collected using an email survey questionnaire from employees and management of four big Life insurance companies in Zimbabwe. The study findings revealed that resource allocation positively influenced digital transformation in the Zimbabwean Life insurance industry. The study recommends that managers in the Life insurance industry hire technologically proficient people to ensure digital transformation success and hire digital transformation consultants to help them with their digitalization process. Life insurance companies are urged to develop a digital transformation strategy. Future researchers are urged to look at other factors which affect digital transformation

Assessment of the effect of resource allocation on digital transformation in the Zimbabwean life insurance industry

The present study attempts to assess the effect of resource allocation on digital transformation in the Zimbabwean Life insurance industry. The study used a positivist research philosophy and a quantitative research approach. Data was collected using an email survey questionnaire from employees and management of four big Life insurance companies in Zimbabwe. The study findings revealed that resource allocation positively influenced digital transformation in the Zimbabwean Life insurance industry. The study recommends that managers in the Life insurance industry hire technologically proficient people to ensure digital transformation success and hire digital transformation consultants to help them with their digitalization process. Life insurance companies are urged to develop a digital transformation strategy. Future researchers are urged to look at other factors which affect digital transformation

Effectual collaborative research in Zimbabwean universities through grid computing

This article seeks to propose a Grid computing architecture that will enable effective collaborative research among researchers in Zimbabwean universities. Zimbabwean universities employ different types of networks, from wired to wireless through the use of VSATs, and also rely extensively of optic fibre to support the huge demands placed on access to the internet by the institution users. Various brands of computers are connected to the network with different specifications. Grid computing environments can enable integration of instruments, displays, computational and information resources across many institutions that are geographically dispersed. Various organisations can share computing power, databases, and other tools securely across corporate, institutional and geographical boundaries without compromising local autonomy