Author: Healthtimes

Zim, Botswana medical products regulators renew MoU

Healthtimes

By Staff Reporter The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has restored its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA) to bolster their partnership in medical products regulation. The first MoU was signed in November 2020 and it was for three years. “The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is pleased to announce the renewal of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA),” said MCAZ director general Mr Richard Rukwata in a statement. “This renewed partnership underscores the commitment of both…

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Fresh Calls to Amend Zimbabwe’s 47-Year-Old Abortion Law Gather Momentum

Healthtimes

By Ntokozo Gudu Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) championing women and girls’ rights in Zimbabwe have called for the urgent amendment of the Termination of Pregnancy Act (TOP), in order to reduce the high maternal deaths associated with unsafe abortions in the country. Zimbabwe is using a Termination of Pregnancy (ToP) Act that was enacted in 1977 which many Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) believe no longer serves the prevailing challenges faced by women and girls. According to the 1977 law, abortion is allowed under the restricted circumstances of rape,…

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The reality behind the ‘Chinese debt trap’ myth in Africa

Healthtimes

By Hannah Ryde For years, there have been sweeping concerns of African countries falling “victim” to a Chinese “debt trap” – whereby Chinese lenders provide unsustainable loans to African countries. Such narratives are problematic, as African countries are portrayed as inferior or incompetent in their engagement with Chinese creditors, while their Chinese counterparts are presented as predatory in their engagement with Africa. Indeed, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed these narratives emerging once again, despite vast amounts of data debunking this theory. This narrative is also extremely harmful, as it…

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Monkeypox: A Global Health Threat – who sounds the Alarm?

Healthtimes

By Dr. Amit Singh Monkeypox is a viral disease of animal origin. It occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.  Common symptoms of mpox include a rash which may last for 2–4 weeks. This may start with, or be followed by, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen glands (lymph nodes). The rash looks like blisters or sores, and can affect the face, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, groin, genital and/or anal regions.…

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Unpaid Care Work Widens Economic Gap For Women In Zimbabwe- Report

Healthtimes
Musa Hove Safaids hands over SOF Report to Minister Mutsvangwa

By Ntokozo Gudu A new report, the State of The Father Report shows that men in Zimbabwe participate in more financially rewarding work while women struggle with the burden of unpaid work. The report was launched in Harare by SAfAIDS in partnership with ADA partners, Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises (MWACSMED) and Sonke Gender Justice in a bid to improve their understanding on the state of fathers towards unpaid care work project. Findings from the report reveal a widening care-giving gap, as women in Zimbabwe take…

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Introducing Etona: UNICEF Zimbabwe’s New Representative

Healthtimes

Zimbabwe, 07 August 2024—Ms Etona Ekole, the newly appointed United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Zimbabwe presented her credentials today to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. Frederick Shava. Ms. Ekole takes over from Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale as head of UNICEF in Zimbabwe. She will oversee the development and implementation of the UNICEF Country Programme 2022-2026. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Fredrick Shava accepted Ms Ekole’s credentials and said: “We are excited to welcome Ms Etona Ekole as the new UNICEF Representative in Zimbabwe. Her…

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Care groups as a vehicle for Supporting breastfeeding mothers

Healthtimes

By Caroline Chiimba Breastfeeding gives children the healthiest start in life, as breast-milk promotes cognitive child development and acts as a baby’s first vaccine, giving babies a critical boost. Nutrition Action Zimbabwe (NAZ) joins the world in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week celebrated from 1-7 August under the theme, ‘Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.’ In its programming, NAZ has always placed emphasis on exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complimentary feeds up to two years and beyond. Breastfeeding proffers lifesaving benefits and is…

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Viagra drug improves brain blood flow and could help to prevent dementia

Healthtimes

A University of Oxford trial has shown that sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, enhances blood flow to the brain and improves the function of brain blood vessels in patients at a heightened risk of vascular dementia.   This new study, published in Circulation Research and supported by the NIHR Oxford   Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), marks a potentially pivotal step in the fight against this debilitating condition. Dr Alastair Webb, Associate Professor at the Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia at Oxford University, said: “This is the first trial to…

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Zimbabwe Has Programs to Retain Medical Students — and That’s Exactly Why They’re Fleeing

Healthtimes

Gamuchirai Masiyiwa, Global Press Zimbabwe; Prudence Phiri, Global Press Zambia HARARE, ZIMBABWE and LUSAKA, ZAMBIA — At a nursing school in Zambia, many of the students aren’t from Zambia at all. Michael is one of them. “We are,” he says, “over 100 Zimbabweans in a class of 140 students.” More and more Zimbabwean students, like Michael, are pursuing their medical and nursing educations abroad, motivated by better study opportunities, bureaucratic challenges in Zimbabwe, and the rising demand for international health workers in countries like the United Kingdom and United States.…

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UN urges Gilead to ‘make history’ with game-changing HIV drug

Healthtimes

Gilead could bring the AIDS pandemic towards an end if the US pharmaceutical giant opens up access to its game-changing new HIV drug, the head of UNAIDS told AFP. Winnie Byanyima urged Gilead to “make history” by allowing generic manufacturing of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV patients. She urged Gilead to open up Lenacapavir to the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool international organisation, whereby cheaper generic versions could be sold under licence in low- and middle-income nations. Whatever the financial rewards of creating Lenacapavir, the renown of being…

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