Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in KADOMA
THE Health Service Commission is reviewing its communication systems to strengthen engagement with health workers and other stakeholders, improve transparency and build public trust in its operations.
The Commission has brought together stakeholders in Kadoma to review its existing communication strategy and develop a new communication policy to guide internal and external information sharing.
Officially opening the workshop yesterday, HSC Secretary Dr Christopher Pasi said effective communication was critical to translating Government policies into improved public health services and supporting national development priorities under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
He said the Commission’s communication systems should contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening the management and performance of the public health workforce, which is central to the delivery of quality healthcare.
“A motivated and informed workforce is better placed to deliver safe, responsive and high-quality care,” said Dr Pasi.
“That is the real-world significance of the policies and strategies we are developing in this room.”
The HSC is responsible for managing the country’s public health workforce, including appointments, conditions of service, disciplinary matters and grievances, as well as overseeing hospital boards.
Dr Pasi said the Commission’s effectiveness influenced the motivation, professionalism and performance of health workers, making communication an important tool in improving service delivery.
The review should ensure that health workers, from nurses in rural clinics to specialists at major referral hospitals, receive clear and timely information about decisions affecting their professional lives and have reliable channels through which to raise concerns, he said.
“Our communication must bridge the distance between high-level policy decisions in Harare and the daily realities of the health workforce across Zimbabwe,” said Dr Pasi.
The Commission, he added, must move beyond publicising activities towards measuring whether its communication improved understanding of its mandate, strengthened stakeholder confidence and supported better institutional performance.
“Press releases, social media posts and event coverage matter only insofar as they improve understanding of the Commission’s mandate, increase stakeholder awareness, strengthen public confidence, support informed decision-making and contribute to institutional results,” he said.
Dr Pasi explained that the proposed communication policy would establish standards, responsibilities and procedures for official communication, including media engagement, internal information-sharing, digital platforms, crisis communication and the protection of confidential information.
“In an environment where misinformation spreads rapidly, our approach must be factual, professional, empathetic, and guided by the public interest,” said Dr Pasi.
The revised communication strategy, meanwhile, would identify priority audiences, key messages, appropriate communication channels, activities, resources and performance indicators.
Dr Pasi said the frameworks must reflect the specific needs of the health sector, where communication often involves sensitive information and rapidly changing public health concerns.
The Commission also needs to invest in professional development, modern equipment, digital platforms and performance monitoring to ensure its communication function contributes meaningfully to institutional effectiveness.
“Management must recognise effective communication as an investment in institutional credibility and public service delivery and provide the department with the capacity and professional space to innovate,” he said.
HSC Support Services programme manager Mr Elias Chizema said the existing communication strategy, inherited from the former Health Services Board, provided a foundation but needed to be updated to reflect the Commission’s current mandate, strategic priorities and operating environment.
“The existing communication strategy, inherited from the former Health Services Board, provides a useful foundation upon which we can build. However, it must be reviewed and updated to reflect the Commission’s current mandate, strategic priorities, institutional structures and operating environment,” he said.
Mr Chizema said the process should ensure communication was not limited to disseminating information but also demonstrated the Commission’s contribution to the health sector and national development.
The effectiveness of the new frameworks, he added, would depend on their implementation, adequate resources and the commitment of all departments and officers to providing accurate and consistent information.
“A strategy has value only when it is effectively implemented, while a policy can only make an impact when it is understood, accepted and consistently applied,” he said.
The seven-day workshop is expected to produce a revised communication strategy, a draft communication policy and an implementation framework outlining responsibilities, timelines, resource requirements and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating communication performance.
Source: Health Commission moves to restore public trust – herald
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