Putting more health workers where they are needed most in Zimbabwe | WHO

When Audrey Musorowembudzi returned to Hurungwe Rural Hospital in Zimbabwe after completing training on integrated women’s cancer care, she was eager to put her new skills into practice.

The primary health care nurse knows that early detection can make a life-changing difference for women in her community. She also knows that strengthening health services is not something one person can do alone. 

 

Audrey Musorowembudzi, Primary Health Care Nurse, Hurungwe Rural Hospital,© WHO Zimbabwe

 

“The community will benefit from the knowledge I will share,” she says. “Once back at the facility, I will pass on this information to my colleagues, ensuring that everyone is informed and no woman is left behind. We are the initiators of a community-wide impact.”

Musorowembudzi is one of thousands of health workers benefiting from Zimbabwe’s efforts to strengthen its health workforce as part of the country’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

A workforce under pressure

Health workers are at the heart of every health system. Without enough trained and motivated health professionals, it becomes difficult to ensure that people can access the services they need, when and where they need them.

Just a few years ago, Zimbabwe faced significant workforce challenges. A comprehensive assessment conducted in 2022 found shortages across the health sector, limited training capacity and growing concerns about workforce retention. Many health workers reported intentions to emigrate in search of opportunities elsewhere. 

The analysis also revealed that Zimbabwe’s Human Resources for Health score was the lowest-performing component of the country’s UHC index. While more than 52 000 health workers were serving communities across the country, an estimated 69 000 additional workers would be needed to meet national health targets by 2030.

Faced with this evidence, the Government of Zimbabwe, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region through the UHC Partnership, embarked on an ambitious effort to strengthen workforce planning and investment.

Turning evidence into action

The first step was to better understand the challenges. Through the country’s first Comprehensive Health Labour Market, government institutions, development partners, training institutions and professional bodies worked together to generate a detailed picture of health workforce needs, gaps and opportunities.

The findings provided the foundation for a new Health Workforce Strategy (2023–2030) and a Health Workforce Investment Compact, creating a long-term roadmap for building, supporting and retaining the health workforce needed to achieve UHC.

“The journey to the development of the Health Workforce Strategy and Investment Compact began in 2021,” said Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care. “Today, we take a pivotal step in translating our commitments into action, demonstrating our collective resolve to enhance the health workforce for the betterment of our health care delivery system.”

 

 

Investing in people who deliver care

The Health Workforce Strategy, developed jointly by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Health Service Commission, addresses workforce challenges across education, training, deployment, retention, governance and financing. 

 

Health workers in Plumtree, Bulilimamangwe District, Zimbabwe © WHO Zimbabwe

 

The accompanying Health Workforce Investment Compact outlines a US$1.63-billion investment plan for 2024–2026, with the Government committing to finance 75% of the required resources.

“We commend the Government of Zimbabwe for transforming commitments into action,” said Dr. Ayodele Odusola, former UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim. “This open investment compact encourages alignment and peer support, ensuring that health workforce development translates into improved population health outcomes.”[JG1] 

WHO supported the process from the initial labour market analysis through to policy dialogue, strategy development and investment planning.

“This is a critical step towards building a resilient and motivated health workforce capable of achieving UHC,” said Dr Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative to Zimbabwe. 

 

 

Early results are already visible

The strategy places a strong emphasis on workforce development. Zimbabwe aims to increase the annual output of trained health workers from 3334 in 2022 to 7000 by 2030, while implementing measures to improve retention, manage migration and ensure more equitable deployment across the country. 

The impact of these investments is already becoming visible. In line with commitments outlined in the Investment Compact, the Treasury approved 14 060 health worker posts. Of these, 5285 positions were filled in 2025, including previously partner-funded priority positions, while a further 8775 positions are planned for 2026. 

Priority recruitment has been focused on 450 medical doctors who had completed their internships but remained unemployed, as well as nurses, midwives, pharmacists, laboratory technicians and dentists. 

These measures are helping to increase the availability of skilled health workers and move Zimbabwe closer to the WHO-recommended workforce threshold needed to deliver essential health services.

For health workers like Musorowembudzi, the significance of these investments goes beyond statistics and policy frameworks.

Every newly trained nurse, doctor, pharmacist and laboratory technician strengthens the services available to communities. Every additional health worker helps expand access to care.

As Zimbabwe continues to invest in its health workforce, more people are gaining access to quality health services, bringing the country one step closer to achieving Universal Health Coverage.