Author: Healthtimes

UNAIDS Appoints New Deputy Executive Director of Programme

Healthtimes

UNITED Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Shannon Hader as the new Deputy Executive Director of Programme of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. “Shannon is an exceptional leader in AIDS and TB—with extensive experience in improving systems for health,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé. “From Washington DC to Zimbabwe she understands the epidemic and the response needed at the community, country and global levels—her vision and knowledge will be critical for UNAIDS and to ending AIDS by 2030.” Dr…

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USAID Announces $12 Mln Cancer Prevention Fund For Sub Saharan Africa

Healthtimes

THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, will dedicate $12 million to support the expansion of programs, to prevent cervical cancer in the Republics of Malawi and Mozambique through integrated programs to improve women’s health. Cervical cancer is an outcome of infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). To reduce cervical cancer in Malawi and Mozambique, USAID will fund activities through the following partnerships: accelerating the introduction of a screen-and-treat strategy for HPV and cervical pre-cancerous lesions in…

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DRC: MSF starts enrolling patients in clinical trial of potential Ebola treatments

Healthtimes

THE Ebola Treatment Centres operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Katwa and Butembo, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, are participating in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of four potential Ebola-treatments in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The trial originally began in November in another treatment centre in the region and MSF facilities are now in a position to contribute to providing valuable information on these developmental products. The treatments that will be used in the RCT are Remdesivir, mAb114, REGN-EB3 and ZMapp. They have been…

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Parliament Rejects NatPharm Retail Pharmacies Bid

Healthtimes

LEGISLATORS say they are against the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm)’s idea of setting up retail pharmacies at a time when hospitals and clinics in the country do not have medicines. By Kudakwashe Pembere During a tour of  NatPharm by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health,  Committee chair Dr Ruth Labode said the establishment of NatPharm’s retail pharmacies was deceitful of the Ministry of Health and Childcare and the company to come up with this idea when public health institutions’ pharmacies do not have some of the medications. “I think on…

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HIV Testing and Counselling A Key HIV Prevention Tool-UN

Healthtimes

THE Zimbabwe United Nations Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) 2016-2020 has identified HIV Testing and Counselling as a key pillar in the HIV prevention equation as it emotionally prepares people to adhere to their medications. By Michael Gwarisa According to the ZUNDAF report, the UN in partnership with the government of Zimbabwe have identified behavior change as a key factor in reducing HIV transmission. “In addressing sexual transmission of HIV, the Government, in close collaboration with the UN and other partners, has prioritised interventions around social and behaviour change; increased condom…

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MCAZ Raises Red Flag Over Bronclear

Healthtimes

BRONCLEAR is illegal and is not registered in Zimbabwe, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has warned. By Michael Gwarisa The warning comes at the back of increased cases of abuse of the medicine by most young unemployed Zimbabweans. The cough syrup drug which finds its way into the country through the porous borders has also claimed lives of many young people while some have been permanently admitted into psychiatric centres. “BronClear is unregistered in Zimbabwe. As such it is illegal. It is time to take action. “As MCAZ,…

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#TalkingLoveThisValentines: 10 Things Never To Do After Breaking Up

Healthtimes

No matter how badly they broke up with you, and no matter how pained you are, these are the 10 worst ways to react! No matter how bad the breakup was, or how terribly your ex went about about it, you should never descend to the level of doing the 10 things listed here below. Why? Because some behaviours are better left for teenagers and kids. 1. Social media shades “It’s crazy how some people cannot even act right in a relationship.” Don’t post such message on Facebook, Twitter or…

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#JUSTIN: Monetary Policy To Determine New Fees Structure- ZIMA

Healthtimes

THE monetary policy will conclusively mould the new pricing regime by medical professionals, a Zimbabwe Medical Association official has said.   By Kudakwashe Pembere This comes in the wake of fears that doctors would charge exhorbitant fees for consultation and reviews. A ZIMA Mutare Branch a fortnight ago had come up with its tariffs starting from US$30 for consultation fees. ZIMA national spokesperson Dr Sacrifice Chirisa told HealthTimes in an interview that consultations are underway to come up with an ultimate tariff regime. “Discussions are still underway and it was…

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Medical Aid Fees Go Up

Healthtimes

MEDICAL aid societies under the banner of the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) have agreed to up the fees payable to healthcare service providers with effect from today (Monday 11 February 2019). This comes as private healthcare service providers last year moved to start charging their patients in United States   dollars. However, the increases, AHFoZ said, only apply to Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) transactions. According to a statement by AHFoZ, payments to hospitals have been increased by 30 percent. And those paid to all other service providers,…

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Econet Tops Up US$60 million For Cholera Fight

Healthtimes

ECONET Wireless’ social impact organization, Higher Life Foundation has availed another US$60 million towards the cholera response. By Kudakwashe Pembere This is supplementary to the US$10 million Econet Zimbabwe donated when the cholera outbreak broke out. The money will be used over the next five years. “The family foundation of Econet founders Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa is committing an additional US$60 million towards the cholera response in Zimbabwe. This comes on the back of an initial $10 million investment by Econet Zimbabwe at the onset of the cholera outbreak in…

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