ZIMBABWE is lagging in technological advancement in the health sector, Health and Child Care minister Douglas Mombeshora has said.
Speaking on behalf of Mombeshora at the launch of the e-learning platform for midwives at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital yesterday, acting health minister, Paul Mavima, said more needed to be done to match the fast evolving world of technology.
The e-learning platform for midwives is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.
“Venturing into the digital realm with our first midwifery e-learning programme in Zimbabwe is, indeed, a very big feat,” he said.
“It exemplifies broadness and commitment for advancing healthcare education.”
He added: “E-learning is so crucial to us because it standardises training across various institutions, ensuring uniformity and quality.
“It provides our students and faculty with access to up-to-date resources and collaborative tools that transcend traditional classroom boundaries. “
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative, Miranda Tabifor, said the e-platform was a step towards empowering midwives with knowledge and the tools they need to provide comprehensive care.
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“Evidence consistently demonstrates that when midwives are well equipped, trained in accordance to international standards and are adequate in number they can provide up to 90% of integrated sexual reproductive health and rights services and avert two-thirds of preventable maternal and newborn deaths,” Tabifor said.
“In keeping with the technological developments and innovations, it is imperative that we embrace innovation to enhance the quality of midwifery education.”
Tabifor said UNFPA was proud to be at the forefront of supporting midwifery education in Zimbabwe. The e-learning system is an initiative of the Health Resilience Fund, a pool donor fund with contributions from the European Union, Ireland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.
A total of US$273 000 was invested in e-learning including for setting up of the Moodle platform, licence, capacity building educators, among other things.
