Medicines for Africa Launches Inaugural Essay Competition on the Good Governance of Medicines

Photo: Copyright: Medicines for Africa

Tinotenda Gwisai. Harare Zimbabwe. Tino is a biomedical engineer and a young leader who specialised in social medicine and is currently embarking on Ph.D. studies at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

​This month,Medicines for Africa launched a nationwide essay competition on the Good Governance of Medicines in Zimbabwe. The aim of the competition is to encourage students to play an active role in formulating ideas and strategies for improving good governance in the pharmaceutical sector. ​

We believe that early and sustained engagement of students on issues pertaining to good governance will, over time, assist in equipping future leaders with some of the essential tools and knowledge necessary to strengthen good governance in the pharmaceutical sector.

​The essay competition was conceived by students at the University of Zimbabwe School of Pharmacy and forms part of the collaboration activities between the Ministry of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe and the University of Zimbabwe School of Pharmacy. The competition will be expanded to include other countries in the coming years.
 
One of our major objectives is to contribute to closing the gaps and shortages in skills that contribute to challenges facing countries like Zimbabwe. We believe that early and sustained engagement of students on issues pertaining to good governance will, over time, assist in equipping future leaders with some of the essential tools and knowledge necessary to strengthen the pharmaceutical sector.  
 
Each year, Medicines for Africa will give students opportunity to write about a topic relating to the Good Governance of Medicines. This year’s topic is “Challenges and Opportunities: Ensuring consistent availability of quality, safe, effective and affordable medicines in all Zimbabwean Communities”. TheMedicines for Africa 2018 jury will judge each essay individually based on criteria including originality, coherence and writing style. Awards will be given at the inaugural Medicines for Africa Symposium.

For more information, you can download the competition document here or email Tinotenda Gwisai