Zimbabwe commissions specialized honey testing laboratory to boost export competitiveness

Zimbabwe provides five-day ART supply to South Africa returnees as 99,000 screened at borders

Zimbabwe's government has deployed health workers and established temporary clinics at ports of entry to provide returning citizens from South Africa with up to five days of antiretroviral ART medication. Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora informed the National Assembly that over 99,000 returnees have been screened at the country's borders. Health checks are also being conducted for travelers transiting through Zimbabwe to Malawi and Zambia. Mombeshora stated that returnees are screened for chronic illnesses, including HIV, diabetes, and hypertension, at all entry points. Emergency ART clinics at border posts dispense a maximum five-day supply of medication, allowing patients to travel to their home districts where they are required to register for long-term treatment after baseline tests. The minister explained that Zimbabwe cannot immediately place returnees on long-term treatment at the border due to differing HIV treatment regimens between Zimbabwe and South Africa. He also noted that the government does not currently use technology or pre-trained models to match South African and Zimbabwean treatment protocols. Additionally, Mombeshora mentioned that the government is coordinating with regional partners to enhance disease surveillance and prevent communicable diseases from crossing Zimbabwe's borders.