Private medical players will next month converge in Bulawayo for the third edition of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe Association (MDPPZA) conference.
Medical players including doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, scientists and dentists, among others will meet to network, share knowledge and resources during the three-day symposium running under the theme Revolutionising health: Uniting for a future of care.
The conference, set for Lalani Lodge and Conference Centre in Bulawayo, will be held on November 10 to 12.
Last year, more than 60 medical practitioners in private practice took part in a similar conference held in Mutare while several others joined virtually.
MDPPZA president Johannes Marisa said the annual conference comes at a time when calls for unity of purpose in the medical industry are growing louder.
“Indeed there has to be a drastic revolution of the health sector,” Marisa said.
“We will only realise how pivotal the sector is when we have unity of purpose.
“Health should remain a fundamental right as espoused by the Alma Ata Declaration of September 1978.
“There is so much excitement among health players as we draw closer to our conference.
“Let all stakeholders join hands.”
MDPPZA secretary-general Cletos Masiya said preparations for the conference were underway.
“Preparations are going on well and we have managed to get a few sponsors for the conference,” he said.
“We are finalising on the guest of honour as we were waiting for the new minister and permanent secretary to settle.
“It’s either the minister or the permanent secretary is coming depending on whoever is available.
“We had approached the mayor of the city of Bulawayo David Coltart as one of the speakers, but unfortunately he will not be available.
“We, however, have the town clerk coming as one of the speakers.”
Masiya said they had a diverse line-up of speakers coming from the medical fraternity and other industries.
He said apart from interesting and relevant clinical sessions, there shall be entertainment within the programme.
The conference starts on Friday morning and will close with an extra-ordinary meeting on Sunday morning.
MDPPZA held its inaugural conference in Kadoma in December 2020, which ran under the theme Restoring the health profession to its glory through moulding balanced and ethical practitioners.
The second indaba was held in Mutare last year under the theme Sustainability and Welfare Health Care Providers in this Changing Environment.