For two weeks, Riders Zimbabwe participated in the first integrated Sample transport system planning and concept note building conference in Kadoma organized by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The conference was sponsored by the World Health Organisation and it brought together the various departments of MoHCW including the National Laboratory Services, National TB and HIV Control Programme, the department of Environmental Health and the City Health departments from Zimbabwe’s major cities of Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe and Mutare. International partners who attended include The Union, USAID, APHL and CHAI. The planning was based on the costing model of a national sample transport system designed and implemented by Riders Zimbabwe prior to the conference, on request by the Global Fund. The participants were excited to learn from Riders Zimbabwe’s experience and well curated Sample Transport systems.

In February 2020, over a five-day period, four Riders Zimbabwe technicians assembled and carried out pre-delivery inspection on 129 Honda XL125L motorcycles in Harare on behalf of the Global Fund. The motorcycles shall be used for the Integrated Sample Transport operations in the country’s ten (10) provinces.

Riders Zimbabwe is a long standing partner of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, having worked with the Ministry for 27 years. Riders advises the Ministry of Health on transport management and preventive maintenance systems. It is within this role that in March 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care supported by Riders Zimbabwe was requested to work with UNDP in the RFQ bidding process for the procurement of Sample Transport Equipment and Motorcycles clothing.