Author: Healthtimes

#JUSTIN: Zimbabwe Receives PCR testing kits from China

Healthtimes

CHINA has donated 30,000 novel coronaviruses (2019-nCoV) nucleic acid diagnostic kit (PCR-fluorescence probing) to assist the country fight against COVID-19. The Acting Minister of Health and Child Care, Professor Amon Murwira received 1,250 kits each containing 24 tests at R.G. Mugabe International Airport. The Minister expressed gratitude for the donation, saying testing is one of the main pillars in trying to contain this pandemic. “I am very grateful to the People’s Republic of China; we have just received 30, 000 PCR testing kits and since testing is one of the…

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Citizens Need To Assume Responsibility For Prevention As The COVID-19 Pandemic Hits Harder On Zimbabwe

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

ITS been six months since the COVID-19 was declared a global health pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, and slightly over four months since it was declared a global pandemic. Today the number of infected people globally stands at an alarming 12.3 million with over 530 000 fatalities. Of course the greatest majority have been reported as recovered, and the outlook is starting to be reassuring in some countries. By Dr Grant Murewanhema However, some countries, notably the Americas, continue to be ravaged, recording several thousands of new…

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Merck Foundation Partners African First Ladies To Improve Cancer Care In Africa Through An Oncology fellowship & Master Degree For More Than 80 Doctors

Healthtimes

MERK Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, continue to provide one, two- and three-year Oncology Fellowship and Master degree for African doctors through their Cancer Access Program with the aim to increase the limited number of Oncologists across the continent. Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of 100 Most Influential Africans emphasized, “Our strategy is to develop a Multidisciplinary Oncology Care team in each country such as; Medical, Surgery, Pediatric, Gynecology, Radiation Oncologists, Nursing, Pathologist…

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#JUSTIN: COVID-19 Now Air-bone Says New WHO Evidence

Healthtimes

THE World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged “evidence emerging” of the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus, after a group of scientists urged the global body to update its guidance on how the respiratory disease passes between people. We have been talking about the possibility of airborne transmission and aerosol transmission as one of the modes of transmission of COVID-19,” Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead on the COVID-19 pandemic at the WHO, told a news briefing. The WHO has previously said the virus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease spreads…

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Remain on guard: WHO …as Zim marks 100 days of lockdown

Healthtimes

‘COVID-19 is not rocket science, it is a virus, it’s predictable…’ With complacency setting in in Zimbabwe, COVID-19 cases could spike if community engagement, messaging and a correct balancing act is not attained. As the country marks 100 days under lockdown, with relaxed measures allowing some sectors to resume duty, this should not be mistaken to mean the virus has receded. COVID-19 hasn’t. It is here for some time until a vaccine is found. Vaccines take time, it’s a process and not an event. Currently there is no cure. By…

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Shortage Of Blood Products: An Early Ticket To The Other World For Pregnant Women In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes
Young Preganant Women

WORLD over, an estimated 800 women die daily due to pregnancy related causes. The majority of these deaths occur in developing countries; the majority of which occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwean has one of the highest mortality rates of around 463 per 100 000; this is an estimate from yesteryears and the current standing may be worse off. By Dr Grant Murewanehma The three direct leading causes of maternal death are infection (sepsis), hypertensive disorders and bleeding before, during or after childbirth, otherwise known as obstetric haemorrhage. Obstetric haemorrhage is…

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Another Deadly Disease “Bubonic Plague” Reported In China, World Should Be On High Alert

Healthtimes

AUTHORITIES in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia are on high alert after a suspected case of bubonic plague, the disease that caused the Black Death pandemic, was reported Sunday. SOURCE: CNN The case was discovered in the city of Bayannur, located northwest of Beijing, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. A hospital alerted municipal authorities of the patient’s case on Saturday. By Sunday, local authorities had issued a citywide Level 3 warning for plague prevention, the second lowest in a four-level system. The warning will stay in place until…

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More than half of people with Covid-19 don’t know how they got it — here’s what that means for you

Healthtimes

A new survey from the Centers for Disease Control found that 54% of people who tested positive for Covid-19 couldn’t pinpoint how they contracted the virus. The remaining 46% of respondents could recall having close contact with a person — commonly a family member or coworker — who was also diagnosed with Covid-19. These findings are “very concerning,” and suggest that people are likely contracting Covid-19 from people in their community who are asymptomatic, Dr. Joshua Barocas, infectious disease physician and assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine, said…

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COVID-19 IN ZIMBABWE: WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE MOVING FORWARD?

Healthtimes
Dr Grant Murewanhema

ZIMBABWE witnessed its third spike of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, confirming 73 positive cases, and unfortunately also witnessed a facility death of a young female patient, aged 21, bringing the total number of officially reported deaths to 8. We should always note the careful choice of words, such as officially reported, and confirmed. By Dr Grant Murewanhema THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN THE COUNTRY So do we know the actual COVID-19 situation in Zimbabwe? How accurate are the numbers we report, and are we doing enough community testing? I…

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Ministry receives chemotherapy drugs

Healthtimes

MINISTRY of Health and Child Care received a donation of 50 vials of Cisplatin chemotherapy drug from MaishaHealthFund and CassavaSmartech in partnership with Cancerserve Zimbabwe. The medicines were handed over at a ceremony held at the Ministry’s Head Office in Harare yesterday. Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the Ministry, Acting Chief Director for Preventive Services Dr. Cremance Tshuma appreciated the donation saying that it will go a long way in helping the Ministry in the cancer treatment component where there have been financial challenges especially for common cancers…

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