What we do

Improving Maternal Health 

Zimbabwe has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, but challenges remain. According to UNICEF (2023), the maternal mortality ratio is 462 deaths per 100,000 live births, still among the highest in the world. Tragically, one in every 59 women is estimated to die from pregnancy-related complications.

Our Response

In partnership with the Centre for Maternal and Newborn Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Zimbabwe Health Training Support (ZHTS) has been working to address this crisis by delivering targeted training to healthcare professionals across Zimbabwe.

Emergency Obstetric Care Training

Our flagship programme is a three-day Emergency Obstetric Care (EOC) course designed to tackle the leading causes of maternal and newborn mortality. The training is delivered through:

• Short, focused lectures
  
• Interactive breakout sessions
  
• Scenario-based learning
  
• Practical, hands-on skills development
  
• Emphasis on teamwork in clinical settings
  

Building Sustainable Local Capacity

Participants who showed strong leadership and teaching potential were invited to join a “Training of Trainers” programme. This has enabled hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo to continue running the EOC courses independently, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Our Impact

Between 2008 and 2015, 924 healthcare workers—including doctors, nurses, and midwives—completed the EOC training. This growing network of skilled professionals is playing a key role in improving outcomes for mothers and newborns across Zimbabwe.

Mental Health Support in Zimbabwe

Around 300,000 Zimbabweans live with mental illness (ZIMNAMH), yet access to care remains extremely limited. Zimbabwe has no government-funded psychological treatment in primary care and only a handful of psychiatrists in the public system.

There are just nine civilian mental health institutions nationwide—many under-resourced and affected by shortages in medication, fuel, and staff due to ongoing emigration of health professionals.

Our Response

Mental illness is among the top five causes of disability worldwide, often linked with other conditions like HIV. To help address this critical gap, ZHTS supports mental health training for nurses as part of their continuous professional development—strengthening skills in both clinical care and leadership.

Our Impact

Since 2011, ZHTS has supported:

• The Friendship Bench in Mbare, Harare – delivering community-based mental health care through trained lay health workers

• Training for mental health nurses at Ingutsheni Hospital, Zimbabwe’s largest psychiatric facility

By investing in local training and partnerships, we’re helping build a stronger, more sustainable mental health system in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has a young population. 44% of the total population (12 million) is under 15 years old.

In 2013 and 2014, Dr Zed Sibanda, a paediatrician, delivered a course of lectures to 120 medical students. There is also ongoing training to support postgraduate students.

In 2013, jointly with the Zimbabwe Epilepsy Society, a course about epilepsy was delivered to 100 doctors and 150 nurses.

A separate workshop supporting the care of children with disabilities was held for 25 physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and technicians.

Dr Zed Sibanda has contributed to the training of at least 10 current consultant paediatricians and has conducted stand-alone courses attended by 25 of the paediatricians.