By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Zimbabwe will join the global community in commemorating International Paramedics Day for the first time on July 8, with an ambulance parade, live emergency response demonstrations and public first-aid training forming part of nationwide celebrations in Harare.
The commemorations, being coordinated by Health and Safety Solutions (HSS), will be held at Town House under the 2026 global theme, “Innovate & Integrate.”
Organisers say the event is aimed at recognising the critical role played by paramedics and emergency medical personnel in saving lives while raising public awareness about emergency medical services.
A major highlight of the day will be an ambulance parade involving emergency medical service providers from across the country.
The procession is expected to start at Freedom Square, travel through key streets in Harare’s central business district and conclude at Town House.
Members of the public will also witness a live mock emergency drill designed to showcase the speed, coordination and expertise required in responding to medical emergencies.
The celebrations will further include a Citizen First Aid Corner, where participants will receive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other basic first-aid techniques from qualified emergency medical professionals.
Corporate partners and healthcare organisations are also expected to exhibit products and services, while exceptional and long-serving emergency medical personnel will be recognised during an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Awards Ceremony.
Speaking ahead of the event, organising secretary Getrude Chihwisa said the celebrations seek to honour the dedication and professionalism of emergency medical workers while strengthening collaboration within Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector.
“The inaugural International Paramedics Day celebrations provide Zimbabweans with an opportunity to appreciate the professionals who stand between life-threatening crises and successful hospital outcomes while showcasing the evolution of paramedicine as an essential pillar of healthcare delivery,” Chihwisa said.
Paramedicine is among the fastest-growing healthcare professions globally, with practitioners increasingly taking on expanded roles across emergency response, community healthcare and specialised medical services.
This year’s theme, “Innovate & Integrate,” highlights the profession’s growing use of digital technologies, advances in patient care, research, education and greater integration within modern healthcare systems.
International Paramedics Day was launched in 2022 and is observed annually on July 8, the birth anniversary of Dominique-Jean Larrey, the French military surgeon widely regarded as the father of modern ambulance services.
The global initiative is coordinated by the Royal College of Paramedics in the United Kingdom, with support from professional paramedic organisations worldwide.
Organisers have invited members of the public to attend the celebrations and participate in online discussions using the hashtags #InternationalParamedicsDay2026, #IPD2026 and #ParamedicsZimbabwe.
