Author: Healthtimes

First Line ART For Paediatrics Expected Soon

Healthtimes

ABACAVIR/LAMIVUDINE, an antiretroviral regimen is expected into the country anytime soon, HealthTimes has learnt. By Kudakwashe Pembere Since 2013 World Health Organisation(WHO) Guidelines have recommended Abacavir/Lamivudine (ABC/3TC) as the preferred nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) backbone in first-line ART in children ages 3-10years and as one of two preferred NRTI backbones for first line in infants and children ages 0-3 years. NatPharm Operations Manager Mr Charles Mwaramba in an interview said, “Last time I heard, we learnt that medicine should arrive.” He however didn’t have the latest update since they have…

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Potraz Donates To People With Disabilities

Healthtimes

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) through the Universal Services Fund (USF) on Monday donated computer software and hardware to people living with disabilities. By Kuda Pembere The items worth USD142 147 were handed over to Emerald Hill School for the Deaf, Margaretta Hugo School for the Blind affectionately known as Capota, Mckertuan Primary School in Bulawayo, National League for the Blind, Jairos Jiri Kadoma and the National Rehabilitation Centre in Ruwa. Addressing recipients, Potraz Director General Dr Gift Machengete said this donation had a personal motivation…

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Zim’s Global Fund Grant Performance Ranking Improves

Healthtimes

THE Global Fund To Fight Aids TB and Malaria has raised Zimbabwe’s ratings for being one of the countries meeting their Grant performance expectations. By Kudakwashe Pembere Aidspan, a Global Fund independent observer, explains that every few months, the Global Fund assigns each grant a rating that measures the performance of that grant over the past few months. These ratings are A1 (“Exceeds expectations”), A2 (“Meets expectations”), B1 (“Adequate”), B2 (“Inadequate but potential demonstrated”) or C (“Unacceptable”). In the map below, we show the average rating assigned by the Global…

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Zim Maternal Mortality Rate Drops

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S maternal mortality rate dropped to 462 per 100 000 live births from the previous 614 per 100 000 live births recorded in 2014, the latest Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019 found. By Kudakwashe Pembere Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth, per 100,000 live births. The data are estimated with a regression model using information on fertility, birth attendants, and HIV prevalence. UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Representative Laylee Moshiri said this was the third MICS for Zimbabwe with the first and second done…

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Zimbabwe Struggles To Cover Third 95

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE lags behind in having 95 percent of the HIV population with viral load suppression (VLS) owing to low viral load testing services uptake, a research has found. By Kudakwashe Pembere Among the key challenges is the demotivating turnaround time taken to receive viral load testing (results VLTR).  The study done to expose the ‘Barriers to Accessing HIV Related Services for Women Living with HIV’ by Pan African Positive Women Coalition (PAPWC) Zimbabwe through a consultant Mr Amos Milanzi found  four critical challenges. The first one was the results take…

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Govt In Talks On Powering Hospitals With Solar Energy

Healthtimes

GOVERNMENT says it is in discussions with potential investors to ensure that Zimbabwe’s hospitals are solar powered. By Kudakwashe Pembere Incessant power cuts stretching 18 hours a day have crippled operations not only in the manufacturing sector but the health sector as well. Energy and Power Development Minister Honorable Fortune Chasi in an interview with HealthTimes in acknowledgement said they are seized with this crisis in this health sector. “There are problems with the hospitals and particularly also with mortuaries. We have brought attention today on what needs to be…

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Traditional Chiefs Rebuke GBV

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE’S traditional religious leaders have defended their culture saying it does not condone gender based violence. By Kudakwashe Pembere This emerged during an SRHR Africa Trust (SAT) organized dialogue marking the end of the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence. At a time when the blame is always thrown at traditional leaders, the chiefs said they yearn to work with organisations well versed in this controversial issue. Chief Chimoyo from Mashonaland East Province said these organisations will capacitate them in handling such issues. “Every time we sit for…

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Stigma slows down ART interventions in Chegutu

Healthtimes

CHEGUTU a farming and mining community in Mashonaland West is one of the few districts that have Medium Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) coverage gap in Zimbabwe. Due to low levels of education amongst most people from farming communities, the levels of stigma are still high, hence the ART coverage gap (1,500-3,000) people living HIV. Due to interventions by ITECH a United States Government President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) partner spearheading viral load testing and monitoring in at least 31 clinics, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) coverage has improved over the years.…

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Health Minister Reads Riot Act To Unlicensed Medicine Street Vendors

Healthtimes

HEALTH and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo has tasked the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) to strengthen its inspection activities on unlicensed medicine vendors to make sure they are arrested instantly. By Kudakwashe Pembere Dr Moyo directed the Authority to strengthen its arresting mechanisms to clear these people off the streets. “There is someone who came and reported that they bought something in the hope it would be functional. I said why did you go to Fife Avenue Shopping Centre to start with, now you are in a…

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Global Young Women and Adolescent Girls SRHR Movement Launches In Zim

Healthtimes

A global movement advocating for young girls and adolescent girls decision making power over their Sexual  Reproductive Health and Rights was launched in Harare on Friday night. By Kudakwashe Pembere She Decides Zimbabwe Coordinator and movement builder Mr Onward Chironda said donor agencies, civil society organisations, diplomatic corps, faith based organisation and parliamentarians pledged to support their cause. The movement is about creating a community or world safe for adolescent girls, safer for them decide on issues of teenage pregnancy, gender based violence, child marriages and other many harmful cultural…

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