It is increasingly recognised that our environment, where we live, work and grow, is intrinsic to health. Harmful environmental exposures are reported to be among the leading contributors to global disease burden. The Department of Environmental Health was, thus, established in 2022 to address the most pertinent environmental issues affecting human health in Zimbabwe. Environmental Health is a branch of public health that focuses on the relationship between the population and their environment in order to promote and maintain health and safety in communities. The field is inherently multidisciplinary because of the wide-ranging environmental factors and exposure pathways that must be explored across the life-course. In that regard, we offer programmes in Public Health and Environmental Health – Bachelor of Environmental Science Honours degree in Public Health and an MSc in Environmental Health. We also offer higher degrees by research i.e., MPhil and PhD, in Public Health and Environmental Health. Our multidisciplinary programmes prepare students to be effective public health leaders in their chosen career paths which include public health practice, academia, advocacy, medicine and many others.

The Department seeks to strengthen the field of Environmental and Public Health in Zimbabwe through hands-on learning and training, collaboration with key stakeholders and high-quality research for evidence-based decision making.

Our department offers many benefits designed to support both local and international students seeking to pursue a career in Public Health and Environmental Health. These include:

• Provide a conducive teaching and learning environment, while promoting collegiality of the discipline.
• Highly qualified team with various areas of expertise relevant to Environmental and Public Health
• Laboratory facilities with modern equipment.
• Undertake high-quality research of national, regional and increasingly of international standing.
• A strong network of local and national stakeholders, including industry, government, and the wider community.

Through our research activities, we intend to build evidence base suitable for the development and implementation of environmental and public health best practices in Zimbabwe. Our researchers and students have published and are carrying out research in the following areas:

• Heavy metal and pesticide contamination of water and food
• health effects of air, water, noise and land pollution
• Health impact of climate change
• Occupational health and safety
• Port Health
• Food hygiene and Safety
• Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases
• One Health
• Application of Indigenous Knowledge Systems to health

Vulnerable populations such as women, children and people living in rural communities in Zimbabwe are of particular interest to us.