Health and environment reporter
www.zimgbcnews.co.zw
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has announced its participation in the 10th anniversary of the global #MedSafetyWeek campaign, running from 3–9 November 2025, under the theme “Everyone has a role to play in medicine safety.”
Zimbabwe joins 130 partner organisations in 117 countries to raise awareness about the importance of reporting suspected side effects of medicines. Now in its tenth year, the campaign encourages patients, families, and healthcare professionals to report adverse reactions to help improve the overall safety of medications used worldwide.
“Medicines save lives, but they can sometimes cause unintended side effects,” said Mr. Richard Tendayi Rukwata, MCAZ Director-General. “Unfortunately, only 5–10% of suspected side effects are reported. This means we may be missing vital signals that could protect others.”
The MCAZ stressed that public participation in reporting adverse effects can help regulators take necessary action — including changing usage guidelines, issuing warnings, or withdrawing unsafe drugs.
Common reasons why side effects go unreported include lack of awareness, the assumption that reporting won’t make a difference, or simply forgetting. The campaign, founded in 2016, seeks to change that by educating the public on how and where to report. This year’s campaign will be the largest yet, with messages shared in over 60 languages.
“This campaign is a call to action,” added Mr. Rukwata. “By reporting side effects, you could help protect someone else. Medicine safety is not just the job of professionals — it starts with you and me.”
The public is encouraged to follow #MedSafetyWeek on social media and share MCAZ content to spread the message.
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