By Margaret Kamba 

His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has spoken of his country's commitment to addressing health related issues through the promotion of locally manufactured health solutions.

This he said during a health plenary session at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly UNGA.

He highlighted that the lessons drawn from the negative impact of previous pandemics brought about the innovations registered by the country today.

"The toll of HIV and COVID-19 pandemics continues to result in loss of human life and disruption to households and livelihoods while impacting negatively on economies and development. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimbabwe has made strides to build stronger and more resilient healthcare systems that are able to identify and contain public health emergencies," President Mnangagwa said.

"Our country is further strengthening Infection Prevention and Control Practices and integrating the interventions into emergency prevention, preparedness and response.

"We have also promoted the local manufacturing of health related commodities and consumables. A major development for Zimbabwe was the establishment of our own local oxygen gas manufacturing plant."

Verify Engineering has been producing medical oxygen and other industrial gases.

 Its customers are in healthcare, petro-chemical refining, manufacturing, food, beverage, fiber-optics, steel making, aerospace, chemicals, and water treatment among others.