Author: Healthtimes

Africa Cannot Afford Another Year of Delay: The Case for Embracing Safer Nicotine Alternatives

Healthtimes

By Joseph Magero, Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) As another year ends, it’s important to reflect on Africa’s position in the global fight against smoking-related diseases. Unfortunately, the familiar pattern continues: while the rest of the world adopts modern harm reduction strategies, Africa remains significantly behind, stuck in outdated methods that don’t address current public health needs. Across Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, safer nicotine alternatives such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and snus have been widely available for years. Their effectiveness in helping smokers reduce…

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Candlelight Ceremony Brings 16 Days of Activism to a Close as WCoZ, Hivos Reflect on Gender Justice

Healthtimes

By Patricia Mashiri The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and Hivos have concluded the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence with a candlelight ceremony that brought together persons with disabilities and representatives from various organisations working with vulnerable groups. Aligned with this year’s theme, “Unite to end digital violence against all women and girls,” the workshop aimed to highlight the challenges women with disabilities face online and explore ways of addressing and preventing digital abuse. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, WCoZ Programmes Manager Rotina Mafume-Musara said the…

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Pan African Woman of Impact Award bestowed on Prof Smelly Dube

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter  Trailblazing Gweru businesswoman, philanthropist and Rivervalley Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer,Amb Proffessor Smelly Dube has scooped the prestigious Pan African Woman of Impact Champion of Change Legacy Award. The honour was bestowed on her by the West African Leadership and Empowerment Centre at a glamorous awards ceremony held recently in Abuja, Nigeria. Dr. Olawale Owoyomi, the Executive Director of the prestigious West African organisation said the award is in recognition of Prof Smelly Dube’s sterling efforts in shaping the development trajectory in Africa. Prof Dube became…

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Teen Pregnancies Are Not Recklessness. They Are a Sign of Silence, Stigma, and System Failure

Healthtimes

Mildred Mushunje and Dean Mutata Why Zimbabwe must urgently invest in youth reproductive health and safe abortion care to unlock its demographic dividend Sub-Saharan Africa is recorded as having one of the world’s youngest populations, and Zimbabwe is a striking example. With adolescents and young people constituting roughly 60%–62% of the population, the country is experiencing a significant youth bulge. This is not a burden; it is a demographic opportunity. Healthy, informed, and empowered young people translate into productive economies, strengthened gender equality, and a foundation for sustainable development and…

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Policy Capture at COP11: What It Signals for Global Health Governance

Healthtimes

By Dr Vivian Manyeki, Public Health Specialist and Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocate In the busy corridors of the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Geneva, a heated exchange occurred. A young delegate, determined and armed with data, confronted a representative of a major global foundation. “We appreciate your contributions,” she said. “But Africa’s strategies must reflect our realities, not imposed templates.” This moment highlighted the tension between philanthropy and sovereignty. Wealthy philanthropists offer solutions for Africa, but governments must remain…

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Women’s Groups Demand Independent Oversight as Digital Violence Surges

Healthtimes

By Health Times Correspondent Women’s rights groups have urged the government to establish independent commissions to monitor and evaluate the implementation of gender policies amid a rise in gender-based violence (GBV) cases. The country recently joined the global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which emphasizes preventing violence against women and girls. The theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism is “Unite to End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.” The campaign highlights the growing threat of online abuse and harassment, calling for collective…

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Philip Morris International takes ZYN to Formula 1 in Ferrari partnership

Healthtimes

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma Leading international consumer goods company, Philip Morris International (PMI), has announced that its leading nicotine pouch brand, ZYN, will feature on Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 car liveries at select races across upcoming seasons. This will be an expanded partnership between PMI and Scuderia Ferrari HP, as well as with Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, the single-marque motorsport championship created in 1993, starting in the 2026 season and beyond. The partnership has been described as a bold new chapter that reinforces a spirit of relentless innovation and…

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Why media narratives matter for safe abortion and reproductive justice in Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Memory Pamella Kadau “Abortion kills.” “Abortion is illegal.” “Abortion is a sin.” “Baby Dumped in Bush as Illegal Abortions Rise.” “Zimbabwe: Our Ugly Secret – Abortion, Illegal but Thriving.” “How Can Zimbabwe Allow Abortion When It Has Just Abolished the Death Penalty?” “Zimbabwe: Historic Victory for Reproductive Justice – High Court Ruling.” “New Abortion Guidelines Expand Choice in Zimbabwe.” These are the headlines that shape Zimbabwean opinions long before anyone reads the actual law. Media breaking stigma or building it? The media plays a key role in shaping public…

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Good COP 2.0 Pushes Back Against WHO’s Quiet War on Harm Reduction

Healthtimes

By Munyaradzi Blessing Doma The 11th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) recently took place in Geneva, Switzerland, and resembled the familiar closed-door meeting where science was neglected and the voices of consumers left out yet again. A lot of these experts, including some of those who helped set the stage for the FCTC in its early days, felt that the meeting had drifted very far from its original purpose. They characterised it as an event powered by predestined stories…

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South Africa, Malawi Among African Countries Recording High drug-resistant gonorrhoea cases

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a renewed warning about the rapid rise of drug-resistant gonorrhoea, calling it a growing global threat that demands urgent action. The alert follows the release of new findings from the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP), which has tracked resistance patterns since 2015 and now reports sharp increases in resistance to key antibiotics. The data release coincides with World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week 2025, underscoring the global significance of the threat. According to the latest EGASP report, resistance to the…

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