Author: Healthtimes

BCG Vaccine Behind Zim’s Low COVID-19 Infections Says Indian Doctor

Healthtimes

New Delhi: Countries that do not have a BCG vaccination policy saw ten times greater incidence of and mortality from Covid-19, compared with those who do, a forthcoming study from medical researchers in the US and UK, which analysed data from 178 countries, has found. SOURCE: The Economic Times BCG, or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, is a vaccine for tuberculosis and is administered at birth in countries that have historically suffered from the disease, such as India. Many rich nations, such as the US, Italy and Holland, have never had a universal…

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How To BEST Prevent and Treat Covid-19 In Resource Limited Settings

Healthtimes

WE are all watching with horror as COVID-19 overwhelms the world’s most advanced health systems in Asia, Europe, and North America, leading to tremendous suffering and death. Clinicians, scientists, and communities in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are bracing themselves. Health systems in some of the most resource-constrained areas are fragile and already under strain – and in crowded slums and townships, social distancing and enhanced hygiene measures to slow the spread will be difficult to implement. There is a very narrow…

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MSU Joins the War Against COVID-19 through the Production of Hand Sanitiser and PPE

Healthtimes

AS the world continues to grapple with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) governments, corporates, institutions and individuals across the world are coming together in an effort to save the lives of infected patients and to protect those that are working on the frontline among them healthcare workers and other essential service providers. However, due to the disruptive effects of the pandemic, most counties do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitary products which are needed to protect people from exposure. Zimbabwe like most nations has not been…

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#JUSTIN: Police To Use Water Cannons To Disinfect Harare Covid-19 Hotspots

Healthtimes

THE City of Harare in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has advised residents in Harare to comply with the directive to stay at home as they conduct a more extensive disinfection of the Covid-19 hot-spots. By Michael Gwarisa In a tweet, City of Harare said, “Dear Residents, We advise you that we are being assisted by ZRP to disinfect all hotspots in the City. ” These include Mbare Musika, Mbare Hostels, and all CBD bus ranks. Police will be using vehicles traditionally used during riot control.”

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We Must Act Now To Reduce The Likely Impact Of COVID-19 In Africa

Healthtimes

THE COVID-19 outbreak is placing unprecedented strains on sophisticated health systems in Europe and Asia, with overstretched medical staff struggling to treat their patients and intensive care facilities overwhelmed in rich countries. By Winnie Byanyima Imagine then the effect on health systems in Africa as the virus takes a hold here. This crisis is already exposing glaring inequalities between the rich and the poor in the developed world, and it is about to reflect even greater inequalities between the North and the South. We need to act! The lack of…

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COVID-19 Inter-ministerial taskforce Propose More Isolation Treatment Centres

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwean cabinet has agreed that there be more treatment and isolation centres in government health institutions as part of Government’s Response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By Kuda Pembere This was announced during post cabinet media briefing today. “Cabinet considered and approved the Action Plan as presented by Hon. Vice President K.C.D. Mohadi, as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on COVID-19. “Key among the proposed actions were that COVID-19 treatment and isolation centres be mapped in the following locations, 5 Central/Referral Hospitals, 10 Provincial Hospitals, 52 District Hospitals under the…

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Health Minister Explains Why Zim Covid-19 Results Come Out At Night

Healthtimes

MINISTER of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Dr Obadiah Moyo says Zimbabwe Coronavirus (COVID-19) results take longer to release owing to the testing method the country is using. By Michael Gwarisa Dr Moyo told a post cabinet media briefing that Zimbabwe was still using the Polymerised Chain Reaction (PCR) testing scheme which takes longer than the Rapid Testing method which takes less than 15 minutes to produce results. “The reason why our results take longer to come out is to do with the testing scheme. We have to batch the…

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Gvt Unfreezes 4000 Health Posts To Battle Covid-19

Healthtimes

TREASURY has approved the unfreezing of health posts in Zimbabwe as part of Zimbabwe’s Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Response. By Kuda Pembere At a time when the Health Ministry alongside health workers’ unions and health Civil Society Organisations have been calling for the unfreezing of health posts, it took the overwhelming threat of COVID-19 to Zimbabweans lives for the Finance Ministry to accede. “Treasury has also concurred to the freezing of over 4 000 health sector posts, and creation of an additional 200 medical posts with a view of scaling to…

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Zimbabweans Heed Lockdown Call

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWEANS across the country’s 10 provinces have heeded to the call for a 21 days Lockdown. By Kuda Pembere In a bid to try containing the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a national lockdown which however spared essential services providers including supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics and hospitals. At Mbare Musika a famed crowded area with bus termini and vegetable markets, there is little activity. In High density areas few people can be seen roaming in the streets. There are privately owned commuter omnibuses save for the Zimbabwe…

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20 Years In Jail For Spreading Fake News On COVID-19

Healthtimes

 THE government has gazetted tough new laws that could see people spending up to 20 years in prison for spreading fake news on the novel coronavirus. SOURCE: NEWSDAY According to Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020, people who peddle information deemed false by the government face up to 20 years in prison, a hefty fine or both. “For the avoidance of doubt any person who publishes or communicates false news about any public officer involved with enforcing or implementing the national lockdown in his or her capacity as such, or about…

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