Author: Healthtimes

TREATS tuberculosis (TB) study launches COVID-19 study using existing mobile TB testing facilities in Zambia

Healthtimes

A major TB study currently underway and aimed at investigating methods to reduce TB prevalence and infection in Zambia and South Africa will soon begin testing for COVID-19 using existing mobile TB testing facilities in the Bwacha – Ngungu community of Kabwe in Zambia. HealthTimes Reporter The 18-month study will be nested within the ongoing TREATS study to measure the prevalence and spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) in Zambia working with one urban community with a target population of 28,000. The country has recorded 11,345 confirmed cases with 282 COVID-19 deaths (classified…

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Retesting No Longer Required Before Discharging COVID-19 Patient- New Guidelines

Healthtimes

ACCORDING to new Centres for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, there is no longer need for health institutions to retest COVID-19 patients to determine whether they have recovered from the virus or not. The new guidelines  based on revisions made on July 17, 2020  state that “except for rare situations, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended to determine when an individual with a COVID-19 infection is no longer infectious (i.e., to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions or home isolation).” Diagnostic testing categories have been edited to focus on testing considerations and actions…

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Govt trains mental health officers

Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT has started training mental health officers countrywide to ensure people get counselling services during this period when Covid-19 is wreaking havoc in communities. SOURCE: Sunday Mail Medical experts say health workers should offer basic psychological support to people who would have tested positive for Covid-19 and screen those who show signs of mental health challenges. It is believed that rising cases of coronavirus are causing fear and anxiety in societies. Older persons, care providers and people with underlying health conditions — who are understood to be susceptible to the…

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HealthTimes To Host Live Twitter Q&A To Unpack The Dapirivine Ring, A Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Tool For Women

Healthtimes

HEALTHTIMES, Zimbabwe’s leading online health news publication will this Thursday, August 2020 host an hour-long conversation to discuss and unpack the Dapirivine Vaginal Ring, a tool meant to reduce the risk of HIV infection in women. By Patricia Mashiri The Question and Answer (Q&A) will start at 11:00 in the morning and end at 12:00 pm and will be hosted on HealthTimes twitter platform @healthtimeszim. The live twitter Q&A is set to give citizens and women in general an opportunity to interact with Dr Nyaradzo Mgodi, an expert in HIV…

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Zim Active COVID-19 Begin To Rise Again

Healthtimes

AT a time Zimbabwe was beginning to enjoy significant COVID-19 recoveries, the number of local active cases seem to be rising again, the ministry of health and child care daily sitrep has revealed. According to the daily COVIOD-19 update, 70 local cases were reported today and they were no imported cases. One death was reported in Manicaland while active cases have risen to 1076 whereas  62 recoveries were reported.

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#TalkingCOVID-19WithDrGrant: Removal Of Mandatory Institutional Quarantine For Returning Residents A Noble Move

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

FROM the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe in March 2020, returning residents were mandated to go into quarantine in designated institutions, initially for 21 days, then for 14 and this was reduced in the past few weeks to 8 days. Recently a cabinet pronouncement was made that returning residents who test negative at points of entry no longer need to go into mandatory quarantine. By Dr Grant Murewanhema Before we critique this decision we have to go into the dynamics of transmission. Initially, the majority of confirmed cases…

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Five Malaria Causing Species

Healthtimes

Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium – single-celled organisms that cannot survive outside of their host(s). Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the majority of malaria deaths globally and is the most prevalent species in sub-Saharan Africa. The remaining species are not typically as life threatening as P. falciparum. Plasmodium vivax, is the second most significant species and is prevalent in Southeast Asia and Latin America. P. vivax and Plasmodium ovale have the added complication of a dormant liver stage, which can be reactivated in the absence of…

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Mental Health in the wake of Covid19

Healthtimes
DEPRESSED AFRICAN LADY (pic by Huffington post)

The increase in community transmissions of Covid19 in Zimbabwe is causing concern in the population’s mental health. Psychological and social problems continue to rise and consequences such as stress, anxiety, depression, frustration, uncertainty and domestic violence are an increasing progression. It is therefore of utmost importance for the people of Zimbabwe to take care of their mental health. Healthcare workers: • You are likely to feel afraid, overwhelmed and experience lots of stress as the outbreak continues, it is important to acknowledge these feelings and notice when you are not…

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Kwava Nemhete Inodzivirira Munhukadzi Kuti Asabata Hutachiona Hwe HIV

Healthtimes

MAIZVIZIVA here kuti kwava nemhete inodzivirira munhukadzi kuti asabatire utachiona hweHIV kubva kumunhurume? Mhete iyi inosunga utachiona mbira dzakondo kuti shwee, zvekuti hapana kupukunyuka kubva mungetani idzi. NaCatherine Murombedzi Muchirungu mhete iyi inonzi Depiravine ring, yakagadzirwa nemushonga unogadzira mapiritsi ema ARV. Vazhinji vanga vaine dambudziko rekunwa mapiritsi ekudzivirira HIV anonzi pachirungu PrEP. Mushonga we PrEP uyu unodziirira vaya vanoita bonde rangarisina dziviriro yemakondomu, naizvozvo vanoita kunwa ari mapiritsi. Mhete itsva Mhete iyi inosunga utachiona mbira dzakondo, kuisa ngetani utachiona huchiri pamusuwo chaipo. Mhete iyi haipfekwe munzeve, muchigunwe kana paguvhu, inopfekwa…

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Masiyiwa’s new programme set to reduce child-birth deaths at Zimbabwe hospitals

Healthtimes

ECONET founder and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa has begun to mobilize funds to support the maternal, child-birth sections of Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospitals to arrest infant mortality at childbirth. Masiyiwa’s action follows shocking recent media reports of seven babies that were reportedly stillborn in one night at one of the country’s largest referral hospitals, after urgent treatment was delayed due to staffing challenges. Masiyiwa wrote:  A few weeks ago the BBC News service ran a story which shocked the world. My wife and daughters were crying openly.  Here is the story:…

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