News and Stories
‘The Way We Do Things’
Dr. Justice Mudavanhu, a Ministry of Health expert, reports that Zimbabwe’s PEN-Plus national operational plan, launched just last year, has already helped transform PEN-Plus implementation from a partner-driven activity in one corner of the country to a Ministry of Health program poised for national expansion.
Lancet Editorial Praises PEN-Plus
With less than a month until heads of state and health leaders from across sub-Saharan Africa convene at the Third International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa to discuss strategies for improving care for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases, a Lancet Primary Care editorial provides a powerful testament to the impact of PEN-Plus.
Photo Gallery: Zimbabwe Hosts Diabetes and Sickle Cell Disease Camp
Young people living with type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, or both gathered in Zimbabwe in August 2025 for a week of health education, peer support, and empowerment, sharing experiences and learning how to manage their health in a camp setting. SolidarMed Zimbabwe, a PEN-Plus implementing partner of the NCDI Poverty Network, hosted the camp.
Her Heart Now Mended, Shumirai Magidi Reclaims Her Independence
Shumirai Magidi, a 48-year-old mother of six who lives in a quiet rural stretch of Chabata Village in the Bikita District of southeastern Zimbabwe, is known for her resilience. Yet that strength was put to the test several years ago, when her health began to fail.
Zimbabwe Finalizes National Operational Plan for PEN-Plus
Zimbabwe recently finalized its national operational plan for PEN-Plus, becoming the first country to do so among the dozen nations that began implementing PEN-Plus in 2022–23. “This plan shows the great commitment of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and its supporting partners to take the lessons learned from its initial experience with PEN-Plus to the next level,” said Dr. Neil Gupta, senior director of policy for the NCDI Poverty Network.
Zimbabwe’s PEN-Plus Program Makes Strides
A recent visit to Zimbabwe by members of the NCDI Poverty Network’s Programs Team yielded encouraging updates on the country’s PEN-Plus program.
Two Small Hearts, Two Big Second Chances
Joyce Makwara and Tatenda Manyuke, a young couple living in rural Zimbabwe, were still recovering from the ordeal that preceded their young son’s lifesaving surgery for a congenital heart condition. But then their infant daughter received a similar diagnosis. Fortunately, by then, the family was already enrolled in the country’s PEN-Plus program.