Harare – Zimbabwe is strengthening its capability to detect and reply to poliovirus with the institution of a brand new Environmental Surveillance  unit in its Nationwide Polio Laboratory. This milestone marks a major enhance to the nation’s public well being infrastructure, permitting for earlier detection of poliovirus and simpler outbreak response efforts.

With assist from World Well being Group (WHO) and by a grant from the Gates Basis, the brand new ES unit will improve Zimbabwe’s capability to check wastewater samples for poliovirus, offering important knowledge on virus circulation even earlier than scientific circumstances emerge. The mixed assist of each establishments, together with the devoted efforts of Rotarians on the bottom, has facilitated the procurement of specialised tools, the coaching of laboratory personnel, and the implementation of stringent protocols to make sure correct and dependable take a look at outcomes.

Environmental surveillance is a confirmed device in polio eradication efforts, serving to international locations shortly establish and comprise potential outbreaks.

Recognizing the progress made by the Zimbabwe Nationwide Polio Laboratory, an official commissioning ceremony of the environmental surveillance laboratory came about this week on the College of Medication and Well being Sciences, College of Zimbabwe. The occasion introduced collectively key stakeholders, together with representatives from WHO, Gates Basis, eHealth Africa, the Ministry of Well being and Baby Care, and the College of Zimbabwe. 

This commissioning marks a major milestone in strengthening Zimbabwe’s laboratory community, making certain that the nation stays geared up to detect and reply to poliovirus threats successfully. The dedication to steady enchancment and adherence to world requirements will additional solidify the laboratory’s position in Africa’s polio eradication efforts.

Beforehand, Zimbabwe relied on sending environmental samples to regional laboratories for testing, which delayed outcomes and response instances. With its personal environmental surveillance unit now operational, the nation will profit from quicker detection and improved decision-making within the struggle in opposition to polio.

“Making certain high-quality polio diagnostics is important in detecting and responding to any traces of polioviruses. A major milestone in 2024 was that each one 16 Polio Laboratories within the WHO African Area efficiently underwent accreditation visits and acquired full accreditation, marking a constant enchancment in laboratory high quality and demonstrating the international locations strong laboratory capability. The laboratories have devoted specialists working tirelessly to uphold world (WHO) requirements. Steady funding in high quality assurance and innovation will maintain us on observe towards a polio-free future.” – Dr Jude Kfutwah, WHO AFRO labs coordinator.

​Zimbabwe Nationwide Polio Laboratory’s Accreditation Journey

As one of many 16 accredited polio laboratories within the WHO African Area, the Zimbabwe Nationwide Polio Laboratory has been instrumental in detecting variant poliovirus sort 2 (cVDPV2), with 45 isolates present in wastewater between August 2023 and December 2024. 

Moreover, in January 2024, a 10-year-old lady was recognized with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) attributable to cVDPV2, marking the primary human case within the nation throughout that interval. These findings underscore the significance of sturdy surveillance and vaccination campaigns to forestall additional transmission.​

The lab acquired full accreditation in 2022 to conduct virus isolation and intratypic differentiation strategies, which entail detecting and figuring out several types of polio. As a part of its continued efforts, it was additionally beneficial to arrange environmental surveillance to trace the virus in water and sewage.

By 2024, vital progress had been made in refurbishing the obtainable house for an environmental surveillance laboratory. The works had been accomplished in 2025 and parallel testing additionally accomplished with glorious comparability of parallel take a look at outcomes. The workers acquired coaching from WHO, and so they have began unbiased take a look at of samples with technical supervision from the regional workplace and the regional reference lab of NICD. As well as, WHO has put in place a top quality management system for normal monitoring of the lab for well timed and high quality launch of outcomes. 

As Zimbabwe strengthens its polio surveillance with this new functionality, the Ministry of Well being and Baby Care, in collaboration with WHO and companions, stays dedicated to making sure that no youngster is left weak to this preventable illness. The ES unit won’t solely assist Zimbabwe’s polio eradication efforts however may even contribute to regional surveillance, reinforcing Africa’s dedication to a polio-free future.